Heat-solubilized curry spice curcumin inhibits antibody-antigen interaction in in vitro studies: a possible therapy to alleviate autoimmune disorders.
Chronic and complex autoimmune diseases, currently treated palliatively with immunosuppressives, require multi-targeted therapy for greater effectiveness. The naturally occurring polyphenol curcumin has emerged as a powerful "nutraceutical" that interacts with multiple targets to regress diseases safely and inexpensively. Up to 8 g/day of curcumin for 18 months was non-toxic to humans. However, curcumin's utility is limited by its aqueous insolubility. We have demonstrated a heat-mediated 12-fold increase in curcumin's aqueous solubility. Here, we show by SDS-PAGE and surface plasmon resonance that heat-solubilized curcumin binds to proteins. Based on this binding we hypothesized that heat-solubilized curcumin or turmeric would prevent autoantibody targeting of cognate autoantigens. Heat-solubilized curcumin/turmeric significantly decreased binding of autoantibodies from Sjögren's syndrome (up to 43/70%, respectively) and systemic lupus erythematosus (up to 52/70%, respectively) patients as well as an animal model of Sjögren's syndrome (up to 50/60%, respectively) to their cognate antigens. However, inhibition was not specific to autoimmunity. Heat-solubilized curcumin/turmeric also inhibited binding of commercial polyclonal anti-spectrin to spectrin (50/56%, respectively). Thus, we suggest that the multifaceted heat-solubilized curcumin can ameliorate autoimmune disorders. In addition, the non-toxic curcumin could serve as a new protein stain in SDS-PAGE even though it is less sensitive than the Coomassie system which involves toxic chemicals.
Arthritis and Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. biji-kurien@omrf.org
Biji T
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Kurien
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D'Souza
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Scofield
D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology; D012995:Solubility; D013049:Spectrin / Q000276:immunology; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013049:Spectrin; C012596:turmeric extract; D003474:Curcumin