title: Curcumin ameliorates hippocampal neuron damage induced by human immunodeficiency virus-1.
abstract: Our previous studies have shown that infection with the gp120 V3 loop can cause human immunodeficiency virus-1 associated neurocognitive disorders. Curcumin has been shown to improve these effects to some degree, but the precise mechanisms remain unknown. The present study analyzed the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of curcumin in relation to hippocampal neurons. Results showed that 1 nmol/L gp120 V3 loop suppressed the growth of synapses. After administration of 1 μmol/L curcumin, synaptic growth improved. Curcumin is neuroprotective against gp120 V3 loop-induced neuronal damage by inhibiting the activation of L-type calcium currents, relieving intracellular Ca(2+) overload, promoting Bcl-2 expression, and inhibiting Bax activation. The effect of curcumin was identical to nimodipine, suggesting that curcumin has the same neuroprotective effects against gp120 V3 loop-induced neuronal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: STD/AIDS Research Lab, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
authors.forename: Dexi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Junbing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Guoyin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Institute of Brain Research, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China ; Joint Laboratory for Brain Function and Health of Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
keywords: Ca2+; apoptosis; curcumin; gp120 V3 loop; grants-supported paper; human immunodeficiency virus-1 associated neurocognitive disorders; neural regeneration; neuroregeneration; synapse; traditional Chinese medicine