title: Curcumin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced renal inflammation.
abstract: Renal inflammation is the main pathological change in many acute and chronic kidney diseases. Curcumin, a yellow pigment present in the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae), was found to be a potential anti-inflammatory agent. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on the inflammation of mice kidney and cultured renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to explore the mechanism. Curcumin was injected intraperitoneally before LPS administration. Renal inflammation was assessed by evaluating monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression and macrophage infiltration in renal tissue using immunohistochemical methods, and also by measuring renal MCP-1 mRNA level using Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HK-2 cells were cultured to investigate the in vitro effect of curcumin against LPS-induced renal inflammation. The expression of MCP-1 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA was measured by Real-Time PCR. The expression of MCP-1 and IL-8 protein in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The results demonstrated that curcumin could inhibit LPS-induced renal MCP-1 mRNA expression. Curcumin also significantly inhibited the expression of MCP-1 and IL-2 mRNA in HK-2 cells, and partially inhibited the secretion of MCP-1 and IL-8. Furthermore, curcumin was found to inhibit the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB. The present study demonstrated that curcumin has a protective effect on LPS-induced experimental renal inflammation, and this effect might be attributed to its inhibitory effects on MCP-1 mRNA expression and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB. Hence, curcumin might be potentially useful in some kidney diseases by preventing renal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yuanmeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009393:Nephritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D027343:Rhizome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003474:Curcumin