title: Curcumin attenuates Concanavalin A-induced liver injury in mice by inhibition of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 and TLR9 expression.
abstract: Curcumin has antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the hepatoprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of curcumin on acute liver injury have not been carefully examined. The aims of this study were to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin on Concanavalin A (Con A) induced hepatitis, and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms in mice. Mice received curcumin (200 mg/kg body weight) by gavage before Con A intravenous administration. We found that curcumin pretreatment was able to significantly reduce the elevated plasma aminotransferase levels and liver necrosis in Con A-induced hepatitis. Also, curcumin pretreatment reduced intrahepatic expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory molecules such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) as compared with the vehicle controls, but augmented anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, the expression levels of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4 and TLR9 mRNA or protein in liver tissues were significantly lowered by curcumin treatment. Curcumin pretreatment did not affect hepatic Kupffer cell numbers after Con A injection. These results suggest that curcumin pretreatment protects against T cell-mediated hepatitis in mice. The beneficial effect of curcumin may be partly mediated by inhibiting the expression levels of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 in the liver.
authors.affiliation: tuchuantao@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Chuan-tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qun-yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yi-an
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Zhang
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; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000633:toxicity; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008934:Mitogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D003208:Concanavalin A; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003474:Curcumin