title: Curcumin improves regulatory T cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissue of colitis mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the probable pathway by which curcumin (Cur) regulates the function of Treg cells by observing the expression of costimulatory molecules of dendritic cells (DCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental colitis was induced by administering 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol solution. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal, TNBS + Cur, TNBS + mesalazine (Mes) and TNBS groups. The mice in the TNBS + Cur and TNBS +Mes groups were treated with Cur and Mes, respectively, while those in the TNBS group were treated with physiological saline for 7 d. After treatment, the curative effect of Cur was evaluated by colonic weight, colonic length, weight index of the colon, and histological observation and score. The levels of CD4(+)CD25+Foxp3(+) T cells (Treg cells) and costimulatory molecules of DCs were measured by flow cytometry. Also, related cytokines were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cur alleviated inflammatory injury of the colonic mucosa, decreased colonic weigh and histological score, and restored colonic length. The number of Treg cells was increased, while the secretion of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12 p40, IL-17 and IL-21 and the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD205, CD54 [ICAM-1], TLR4, CD252[OX40 L], CD256 [RANK] and CD254 [RANK L]) of DCs were notably inhibited in colitis mice treated with Cur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cur potentially modulates activation of DCs to enhance the suppressive functions of Treg cells and promote the recovery of damaged colonic mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Min-Fang
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Hai-Mei Zhao, Shao-Min Cheng, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, Jiangxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Duan-Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011897:Random Allocation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects*; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D000431:Ethanol; D019804:Mesalamine; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Costimulatory molecules; Curcumin; Dendritic cells; Regulatory T cells