Curcumin inhibits the formation of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice by suppressing cytomegalovirus activity in endothelial cells.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Curcumin (Cur) is a hydrophobic polyphenol compound derived from the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa. Cur has a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. It has been shown that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was an important risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS) and Cur exhibited an outstanding anti-HCMV effect. However, anti-AS effects of Cur remain unclear when HCMV infected endothelial cells.

AIMS:

This study will investigate the anti-AS activities and mechanism of Cur,when HCMV infected in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cur (0.5, 1, and 2 μM) was used to explore the anti-AS activities and mechanism after HCMV infected endothelial cells in vitro. ApoE-/- mice were fed a high fat and cholesterol diet (HD) and given 4000,000 copies/mouse MCMV infection by intraperitoneal and treated with ganciclovir (5 mg/kg/d), Cur (25, 15 mg/kg/d) for 10 weeks in vivo.

KEY FINDINGS:

As our results showed that Cur inhibited CMV replication and proliferation, reduced the intracellular ROS overproduction, decreased the release of inflammatory cytokines, down-regulated the level of HMGB1-TLRS-NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins in vitro experiments. Cur reduced the serum levels of LDL-C, TC and TG, significantly decreased the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the aorta, reduced the lipid deposition in liver and inflammatory damage in heart, lung and kidney in vivo experiments.

SIGNIFICANCE:

This study showed that Cur prevent AS progression by inhibiting CMV activity and CMV-induced HMGB1-TLRS-NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Authors: Ya-Li Lv, Yangjie Jia, Zirui Wan, Zhuo-Ling An, Song Yang, Fei-Fei Han, Li-Li Gong, Ling-Ling Xuan, Lu-Lu Ren, Wen Zhang, He Liu, Li-Hong Liu
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 257 Pg. 117658 (Sep 15 2020) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32621921 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Apolipoproteins E
• Cytokines
• NF-kappa B
• Plant Extracts
• turmeric extract
• Curcumin

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Apolipoproteins E (genetics, metabolism)
• Atherosclerosis (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Curcuma (metabolism)
• Curcumin (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Cytomegalovirus (drug effects)
• Endothelial Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
• Humans
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)