title: Curcumin improves intestinal barrier function: modulation of intracellular signaling, and organization of tight junctions.
abstract: Association between circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and metabolic diseases (such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis) has shifted the focus from high-fat high-cholesterol containing Western-type diet (WD)-induced changes in gut microbiota per se to release of gut bacteria-derived products (e.g., LPS) into circulation due to intestinal barrier dysfunction as the possible mechanism for the chronic inflammatory state underlying the development of these diseases. We demonstrated earlier that oral supplementation with curcumin attenuates WD-induced development of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Poor bioavailability of curcumin has precluded the establishment of a causal relationship between oral supplementation and it is in vivo effects. We hypothesized that curcumin attenuates WD-induced chronic inflammation and associated metabolic diseases by modulating the function of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the intestinal barrier function. The objective of the present study was to delineate the underlying mechanisms. The human IEC lines Caco-2 and HT-29 were used for these studies and modulation of direct as well as indirect effects of LPS on intracellular signaling as well as tight junctions were examined. Pretreatment with curcumin significantly attenuated LPS-induced secretion of master cytokine IL-1β from IECs and macrophages. Furthermore, curcumin also reduced IL-1β-induced activation of p38 MAPK in IECs and subsequent increase in expression of myosin light chain kinase involved in the phosphorylation of tight junction proteins and ensuing disruption of their normal arrangement. The major site of action of curcumin is, therefore, likely the IECs and the intestinal barrier, and by reducing intestinal barrier dysfunction, curcumin modulates chronic inflammatory diseases despite poor bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia shobha@vcu.edu.
authors.forename: Siddhartha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia shobha@vcu.edu.
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: chronic inflammatory metabolic diseases; intestinal epithelial cell inflammation; tight junction proteins