title: Curcumin protects against collagen-induced arthritis via suppression of BAFF production.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the anti-Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) effect of curcumin is associated with the regulation of B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1 J mice by immunization with bovine type II collagen. To investigate the anti-arthritic effect of curcumin in the CIA model, mice were injected intraperitoneally with curcumin (50 mg/kg) on every other day either from day 1 or from day 28 after the first immunization. The clinical severity of arthritis was monitored. BAFF, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-γ (IFNγ) production in serum were measured. Furthermore, the effect of curcumin on IFNγ-induced BAFF expression and transcriptional activation in B lymphocytes was determined by qPCR, Western Blot, and luciferase assay. Finally, IFNγ related signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) signaling in B lymphocytes were studied using Western Blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin dramatically attenuated the progression and severity of CIA in DBA/1 J mice, accompanied with decrease of BAFF production in serum and spleen cells as well as decrease of serum IFNγ and IL-6. Treatment of B lymphocytes with curcumin suppressed IFNγ-induced BAFF expression, STAT1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, suggesting that curcumin may repress IFNγ-induced BAFF expression via negatively interfering with STAT1 signaling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that suppression of BAFF production may be a novel mechanism by which curcumin improves RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhizhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jishan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Fengtian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003474:Curcumin