Protective Effects Of Curcumin On Injury Of HUVEC And Its Molecular Mechanisms

AIM: In this report, we observed the cytoprotection effect of curcumin and its molecular mechanism on the cell injury caused by TNF- α and thrombin in isolated human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. METHODS: The adherence of platelets, leukocytes to HUVEC was determined by [3H]-Adenine labeled and Myeloperoxidase. The expression of P-selectin, GPIIb/IIIa and IC AM-1 mRN A and protein was detected by RT-PCR, FCM and Western blotting, respectively. The extent of cell death was assessed by MTT viability assay, Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining, FCM and et al.RESULTS: It's showed that the increase of adhesion between activated HUVEC and platelets and leukocytes were significantly inhibited by Curcumin in a concentration dependant manner. The results showed this decrease in the expression of IC AM-1 and P-selectin can be the inhibitied by Curcumin respectively. It's demonstrated that in the TNF-α group, the cells turned into round from their normal fusiform, and suspended in the culture medium, chromatin condensation was found in the nucleus, apoptotic bodies, apoptotic peaks were observed in the corresponding tests. While group pretreated with Curcumin had showed no obvious apoptosis character in the tests, and it's found that the Caspase-3 mRNA expression could be inhibited by curcumin. CONCLUSION: Curcumin could act against the endothelial cell damage caused by activated platelet and TNF-a, which could be attributed to a poly-pathway mechanism, including the downregulation of the expression of IC AM-1, P-selectin, Caspase-3, the consequent decrease in the adherence between endothelial cells and leukocytes and platelets and the inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis.