title: Curcumin protects mice against concanavalin A-induced hepatitis by inhibiting intrahepatic intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and CXCL10 expression.
abstract: The effect of curcumin on liver injury caused by Concanavalin A (Con A) has not been carefully examined. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of curcumin on Con A-induced hepatitis in mice. Liver injured mice received curcumin by gavage at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight before Con A intravenous administration. Curcumin was effective in reducing the elevated plasma levels of aminotransferases and the incidence of liver necrosis compared with Con A-injected control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that curcumin suppressed proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-4 production in Con A-injected mice. The reduced severity of hepatitis in curcumin pretreated mice correlated with decrease in numbers of liver CD4(+) T cells but not CD8(+) T cells by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and the interferon-inducible chemokine CXCL10 in hepatic tissue were significantly decreased by curcumin pretreatment. In conclusion, curcumin pretreatment protects against T cell-mediated hepatitis in mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China. tuchuantao@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Chuan-tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hong-chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shun-cai
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; C485433:Cxcl10 protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003208:Concanavalin A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003474:Curcumin