title: The Anti-Inflammatory Compound Curcumin Enhances Locomotor and Sensory Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats by Immunomodulation.
abstract: Well known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammation properties, curcumin is a polyphenol found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin on behavioral recovery, glial scar formation, tissue preservation, axonal sprouting, and inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) in male Wistar rats. The rats were randomized into two groups following a balloon compression injury at the level of T9-T10 of the spinal cord, namely vehicle- or curcumin-treated. Curcumin was applied locally on the surface of the injured spinal cord immediately following injury and then given intraperitoneally daily; the control rats were treated with vehicle in the same manner. Curcumin treatment improved behavioral recovery within the first week following SCI as evidenced by improved Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) test and plantar scores, representing locomotor and sensory performance, respectively. Furthermore, curcumin treatment decreased glial scar formation by decreasing the levels of MIP1α, IL-2, and RANTES production and by decreasing NF-κB activity. These results, therefore, demonstrate that curcumin has a profound anti-inflammatory therapeutic potential in the treatment of spinal cord injury, especially when given immediately after the injury.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. urdzikl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Machova Urdzikova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. karova@biomed.cas.cz.|Department of Neuroscience, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. karova@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Kristyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. j.ruzicka@biomed.cas.cz.|Department of Neuroscience, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. j.ruzicka@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. anna.kloudova@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kloudova
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, NY 10595, USA. cshannonmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. jana.dubisova@biomed.cas.cz.|Department of Neuroscience, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. jana.dubisova@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dubisova
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, NY 10595, USA. Raj_Murali@NYMC.edu.
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. sarka.k@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Sarka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubinova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. sykova@biomed.cas.cz.|Department of Neuroscience, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. sykova@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sykova
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, NY 10595, USA. meena_jhanwar@NYMC.edu.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jhanwar-Uniyal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. jendel@biomed.cas.cz.|Department of Neuroscience, Charles University, Second Faculty of Medicine, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic. jendel@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Pavla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jendelova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: NF-κB; curcumin; cytokines; inflammation; secondary processes; spinal cord injury