title: Curcumin affects β-catenin pathway in hepatic stellate cell in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emerging evidence indicates that Wnt/β-catenin pathway is linked to the fibrosis of different organs including liver fibrosis. β-Catenin promotes hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, a key event in the development of liver fibrosis, and has emerged as a novel mediator of fibrosis. Curcumin, a natural active ingredient derived from turmeric, possesses an inhibitory effect on liver fibrosis. This study is aimed to examine whether curcumin affects β-catenin expression/activity in HSCs and explores the underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The researchers used Western blot, real-time PCR, transfection assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay and employed cultured HSCs and rat model of liver injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that curcumin could reduce β-catenin protein level in HSCs in vitro and in vivo. Both β-catenin transactivation activity and DNA-binding activity were suppressed by curcumin. Moreover, nuclear β-catenin protein level was decreased by curcumin treatment. Further experiments suggested that delta-like homologue 1 contributed to curcumin inhibition of β-catenin transactivation activity in cultured HSCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin affects β-catenin pathway in HSCs and might suggest a possible new explanation for the effects of curcumin on HSC activation and liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Huixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030024:Curcuma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C512923:Dlk1 protein, rat; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051176:beta Catenin; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: curcumin; delta-like homologue 1; hepatic stellate cell; liver fibrosis; β-catenin