Curcumin prevents human aortic smooth muscle cells migration by inhibiting of MMP-9 expression.
OBJECTIVE
The migration of vascular smooth muscle cells from the tunica media to the subendothelial region is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. Curcumin, which is consumed daily by millions of people, is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cell migration, the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB) and the activation and expression of MMP-9 in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).


RESULTS
The Matrigel migration assay showed that curcumin (10 and 20 micromol/l) effectively inhibited TNF-alpha-induced migration of HASMCs as compared with the control group. To explain this inhibitory effect, MMP-9 was assayed by gelatin zymography and Western blot. The results indicated that curcumin inhibited MMP-9 activity and expression. Furthermore, the production of ROS and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p50 and p65 induced by TNF-alpha were dose-dependently suppressed by curcumin pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and may prevent the migration of HASMCs by suppressing MMP-9 expression through down-regulation of NF-kappaB.
Yu
Y-M
YM
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan. yuyamei@hotmail.com
Lin
H-C
HC
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; C489548:NFKB1 protein, human; C498143:RELA protein, human; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D003474:Curcumin