title: Dendrosomal curcumin suppresses metastatic breast cancer in mice by changing m1/m2 macrophage balance in the tumor microenvironment.
abstract: Curcumin, a lipid-soluble compound extracted from the plant Curcuma Longa, has been found to exert immunomodulatory effects via macrophages. However, most studies focus on the low bioavailability issue of curcumin by nano and microparticles, and thus the role of macrophages in the anticancer mechanism of curcumin has received little attention so far. We have previously shown the potential biocompatibility, biodegradability and anti-cancer effects of dendrosomal curcumin (DNC). In this study, twenty-seven BALB/c mice were equally divided into control as well as 40 and 80 mg/kg groups of DNC to investigate the involvement of macrophages in the antitumor effects of curcumin in a typical animal model of metastatic breast cancer. At the end of intervention, the tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in DNC groups compared to control (P<0.05). Histopathological data showed the presence of macrophages in tumor and spleen tissues. Real-time PCR results showed that DNC increased the expression of STAT4 and IL-12 genes in tumor and spleen tissues in comparison with control (P<0.05), referring to the high levels of M1 macrophages. Furthermore treatment with DNC decreased STAT3, IL-10 and arginase I gene expression (P<0.05), indicating low levels of M2 macrophage. The results confirm the role of macrophages in the protective effects of dendrosomal curcumin against metastatic breast cancer in mice.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran E-mail : aalizadeh@razi.tums.ac.ir, baradaranb@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiri
authors.forename: Ali Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baradaran
authors.forename: Baharak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farhanghi
authors.forename: Dariush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shanehbandi
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khodayari
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khodayari
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D003474:Curcumin