Curcumin, a nutritional supplement with antineoplastic activity, enhances leiomyoma cell apoptosis and decreases fibronectin expression.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if curcumin has an antiproliferative effect on leiomyoma cells via apoptosis induction and whether curcumin impacts extracellular matrix (ECM) production by assessing the fibronectin expression in leiomyoma cells treated with curcumin.


METHODS
Tissue culture study of immortalized human leiomyoma and patient-matched myometrial cells treated with curcumin.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Immortalized leiomyoma and myometrial cells from patients with symptomatic leiomyomata.


METHODS
Tissue culture, followed by proliferation studies, RNA, and protein analysis.


METHODS
Cell proliferation, alteration in apoptotic signaling pathways.


RESULTS
Curcumin demonstrated an antiproliferative effect on leiomyoma cell lines (IC50 = 20 muM). Importantly, no statistically significant inhibition of growth was observed when patient-matched myometrial cells were exposed to equivalent concentrations of curcumin. Curcumin stimulated caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression while inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK 1), ERK 2, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), suggesting regulation of leiomyocyte apoptosis. Finally, curcumin inhibited expression of fibronectin in leiomyoma cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that curcumin inhibited uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation via regulation of the apoptotic pathway, and inhibited production of the ECM component fibronectin. Curcumin provides a novel direction for leiomyoma therapies.
Malik
Minnie
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4712, USA.
Mendoza
Mirian
M
Payson
Mark
M
Catherino
William H
WH
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D005353:Fibronectins; D020169:Caspases; D003474:Curcumin