title: Curcumin upregulates Nrf2 nuclear translocation and protects rat hepatic stellate cells against oxidative stress.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the protective role of curcumin against oxidative stress in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)-T6, and to determine the possible underlying mechanisms. HSC-T6 cells were divided into three groups: Negative control group, oxidant-treated group and curcumin-treated group. Flow cytometry and spectrophotometry were used to measure the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). Immunocytochemistry and a radioimmunoassay were used to determine the expression of smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. In addition, western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to determine the expression levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). Treatment with glucose oxidase (GO) significantly stimulated the formation of ROS and increased the production of MDA, as compared with the control cells; however, the production of GSH was only slightly increased. In addition, treatment with GO significantly promoted the expression of α-SMA and the secretion of ECM molecules. Conversely, treatment with curcumin significantly decreased the levels of ROS and MDA, and significantly increased the levels of GSH. Curcumin significantly inhibited the expression of α-SMA and decreased the secretion of ECM molecules. Furthermore, treatment with curcumin significantly increased the nuclear expression levels of Nrf2. These results indicated that curcumin may protect rat HSCs against oxidative stress and inhibit the GO-induced activation and secretion of ECM molecules in vitro. These effects were mediated by the upregulation of Nrf2 nuclear translocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenxiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, 180 Military Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian 362000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qinsheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jingjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects*; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D003474:Curcumin; D003893:Desmin; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D020011:Protective Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat