Abstract

Curcumin has been used in Asian traditional medicine for its medicinal properties. Recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin has antioxidant, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of curcumin on established lupus nephritis (LN) in New Zealand Black/White (NZB/W) F1 female mice, in particular, its interaction with regulatory T (Treg) cells. Starting at 18 weeks of age, mice were fed a standard diet or a diet containing 1 % curcumin until the end of the study. The proteinuria level and the serum levels of IgG1, IgG2a and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) IgG antibodies were measured. Additionally, IgG immune complex deposition in the glomeruli and renal inflammation were compared between curcumin-treated mice and control mice. Curcumin decreased the proteinuria level and serum levels of IgG1, IgG2a and anti-dsDNA IgG antibodies in NZB/W F1 female mice. IgG immune complex deposition in the glomeruli was reduced in curcumin-treated mice. Furthermore, renal inflammation was also decreased after curcumin treatment. Interestingly, these therapeutic effects of curcumin disappeared after Treg depletion by anti-CD25 antibody injection. Curcumin exerted a protective effect against LN in NZB/W F1 mice. We speculate that the protective effects of curcumin in LN may involve, at least in part, its interaction with Treg cells. © 2012 The Authors.

Author keywords

Autoimmunity; Curcumin; Lupus nephritis; New Zealand Black/White F1 mice; Regulatory T cells

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: curcumin; double stranded DNA antibody; immunoglobulin G antibody; immunoglobulin G1 antibody; immunoglobulin G2a antibody; immunoglobulin G2b antibody; immunoglobulin G3 antibody; interleukin 6; monocyte chemotactic protein 1; tumor necrosis factor alpha; unclassified drug

EMTREE medical terms: animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; article; controlled study; female; food intake; glomerulus; helper cell; immune complex deposition; immunoglobulin blood level; kidney parenchyma; lupus erythematosus nephritis; mouse; nephritis; New Zealand; nonhuman; protein blood level; protein expression; proteinuria; regulatory T lymphocyte; T cell depletion; Th1 cell; Th2 cell; therapy effect

MeSH: Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Antigen-Antibody Complex; Curcuma; Curcumin; Dietary Supplements; Female; Immunoglobulin G; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Kidney Glomerulus; Lupus Nephritis; Mice; Mice, Inbred NZB; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Proteinuria; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

Species Index: Mus

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: curcumin, 458-37-7;Antibodies; Antibodies, Antinuclear; Antigen-Antibody Complex; Curcumin, 458-37-7; Immunoglobulin G; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; Plant Extracts