title: Effect of curcumin on inhibiting atherogenesis by down-regulating lipocalin-2 expression in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Curcumin possesses significant anti-atherosclerosis properties. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is already known as one of the most promising biomarkers of atherosclerosis. However, research on the effect of curcumin on regulating LCN2 expression in atherogenesis is very limited. The aim of the study was to investigate whether curcumin could alleviate atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice by down-regulating LCN2 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice were fed with a western diet for 12 weeks and randomly divided into five groups: model group (Mod), positive control group (Lov, with 30 mg/kg/d lovastatin), three curcumin groups (CurL, CurM and CurH, with 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg/d curcumin), while 10 C57BL/6J mice were fed with a standard mouse chow diet as a control group (Con). LCN2 in serum and aorta, biomarkers of serum lipid and inflammation were determined and the plaque area of the atherosclerosis lesions was quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CurM and CurH group were significantly lower than Mod group in terms of serum LCN2, lipid and inflammatory cytokine levels, plaque area and LCN2 expression in atherosclerotic lesions, similar to lovastatin treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that dietary curcumin ameliorates western diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, which is related to LCN2 down-regulation, anti-hyperlipidemia effect as well as the inhibition of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.|Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066273:Diet, Western / Q000009:adverse effects; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D000071068:Lipocalin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C071332:Lcn2 protein, mouse; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Curcumin; anti-hyperlipidemia; apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice; atherosclerosis; inflammation; lipocalin-2 (LCN2)