title: Curcumin, the main active constituent of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), induces apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells by modulating the abundance of apoptosis-related growth factors.
abstract: In order to elucidate the mechanism of action of curcumin against hepatic fibrosis, cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) (HSC-T6) were incubated with curcumin for 24 h, after which apoptosis was measured by flow-cytometry. The protein levels of the pro-apoptotic factors Fas and p53b as well as of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 were monitored by immunocytochemical ABC staining after incubation with curcumin for 24 h. In the case of 20 μM curcumin, not only was the respective apoptosis index increased, but also the abundance of the pro-apoptotic factors Fas and p53 were amplified, whereas that of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 decreased. All these effects were highly reproducible (P<0.05). Consequently, curcumin has an up-regulating effect on pro-apoptotic factors like Fas and p53 as well as a down-regulating effect of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, thus inducing apoptosis in HSC.
authors.forename: Ya-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuchta
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guo-Rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xu-You
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Le-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Jian-Chang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shu