title: Curcumin improves LPS-induced preeclampsia-like phenotype in rat by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway.
abstract: Abnormal inflammation mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway contributes to preeclampsia (PE). Because curcumin can inhibit TLR4 signaling pathway, we investigated its effects on a PE rat model.
  
  
  
  Twenty-one pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: 1) seven rats were injected 0.5 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational day (GD) 5 to create a PE model (LPS-treated group), 2) seven rats were injected with a similar dosage of LPS and further treated with curcumin (0.36 mg/kg) (LPS-curcumin-treated group), 3) seven rats received saline (control group). Blood pressure and urinary protein level were observed. Immunostaining and periodic acid-Schiff staining of placenta were conducted. TLR4 and downstream Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) expressions of placenta were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. IL-6 and MCP-1 in rat serum and placenta were determined by ELISA and qRT-PCR.
  
  
  
  Compared to LPS-treated group, LPS-curcumin-treated group had decreased blood pressure and urinary protein level, similar to control group. Furthermore, deficient trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling induced by LPS were improved by curcumin. Increased TLR4, NF-κB and IL-6, MCP-1 protein expressions in LPS-treated group were significantly decreased after curcumin administration.
  
  
  
  Curcumin improves the PE-like phenotype in rat model by reducing abnormal inflammation related to TLR4 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Guomin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yujing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Mengfei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Muyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: diaozy1999@tom.com.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: gp8858@126.com.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; Lipopolysaccharide; Preeclampsia; Spiral artery remodeling; Toll-like receptor 4