title: Curcumin attenuates rat thoracic aortic aneurysm formation by inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway and apoptosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have suggested that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) plays an important role in the formation of abdominal aortic aneurysms, and that direct blockade of JNK by specific inhibitors can effectively prevent the progression of aortic aneurysms. A study has demonstrated that curcumin can suppress the development of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms by inhibiting inflammation. We sought to investigate whether curcumin could inhibit JNK pathways and apoptosis in thoracic aortic aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a rat model of a CaCl₂-induced thoracic aortic aneurysm followed by daily oral gavage with curcumin 100 mg/kg or vehicle alone. After treatment for 4 wk, tissue specimens were obtained for histologic assessments, and tissue composition was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin significantly suppressed the CaCl₂-induced expansion of the thoracic aortic diameter and the structural preservation of medial elastin fibers. Most importantly, curcumin treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun, accompanied by less cell apoptosis in thoracic aortic aneurysm tissues. Furthermore, the expression levels of caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were significantly decreased in the aortic walls of curcumin-treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that the beneficial effect of curcumin on degenerative aortic aneurysms is related to the inhibition of JNK and apoptosis in the walls of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
authors: Department of Tissue Engineering, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Fan
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Ya-Wei
authors: YW
authors: Yan
authors: Xiao-Hong
authors: XH
authors: Tian
authors: Wei-Jian
authors: WJ
authors: Hou
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Tong
authors: Shu-Ling
authors: SL
authors: Bai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; D003474:Curcumin; D002122:Calcium Chloride