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Curcumin and a Morus alba extract reduce pro-inflammatory effects of resistin in human endothelial cells
Monica Madalina Pirvulescu1, Ana-Maria Gan, Daniela Stan
1Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology Nicolae Simionescu, 8 B.P. Hasdeu Street, 050568, Bucharest, Romania. monica.pirvulescu@icbp.ro
Insights
Natural antioxidants curcumin and Morus alba extract protect against resistin-induced endothelial activation. These compounds reduce inflammation markers, reactive oxygen species, and monocyte adhesion, suggesting potential therapeutic roles in vascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Resistin, a cytokine, promotes cardiovascular disease by increasing systemic inflammation and endothelial activation.
- Resistin elevates P-selectin and fractalkine expression in human endothelial cells (HEC), enhancing monocyte adhesion through antioxidant pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of curcumin (CC) and Morus alba leaf extract (MA) on resistin-activated HEC.
- To determine if these natural antioxidants can mitigate resistin-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- HEC were treated with resistin (100 ng/mL) with or without MA or CC for 6 and 18 hours.
- Gene and protein expression of P-selectin and fractalkine were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blot.
- Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NADPH oxidase activity were measured.
- Monocyte adhesion assays using U937 cells were conducted.
Main Results:
- MA and CC significantly inhibited resistin-induced P-selectin and fractalkine expression.
- Both antioxidants reduced the increase in intracellular ROS levels and NADPH oxidase activity.
- Treatment with MA and CC decreased monocyte adhesion to HEC.
Conclusions:
- Morus alba extract and curcumin counteract resistin-induced human endothelial activation.
- The protective effects are partly mediated through antioxidant mechanisms, targeting ROS production and NADPH oxidase.
- These natural compounds show promise as therapeutic agents for resistin-mediated vascular diseases.
Abstract:
Resistin is a cytokine which plays an important role in cardiovascular disease by influencing systemic inflammation and endothelial activation. In human endothelial cells (HEC) it increases the expression of P-selectin and fractalkine, and enhances monocyte adhesion by antioxidant mechanisms. This study investigated whether the natural antioxidants curcumin (CC) and an extract of Morus alba leaves (MA) have protective effects in resistin-activated HEC. HEC were exposed to 100 ng/mL resistin for 6 and 18 h in the absence or presence of MA or CC and the expression of fractalkine and P-selectin was determined by RT-PCR and western blot. Intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was monitored by fluorimetry and NADPH oxidase activity by a lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence assay. In addition, adhesion assays using the monocytic U937 cells were performed. The results showed that treatment of HEC exposed to resistin with MA and CC: (1) inhibited significantly P-selectin and fractalkine expression, (2) inhibited the increase in the intracellular ROS level, (3) reduced NADPH activation and (4) reduced monocytes adhesion to HEC. The results indicate that MA and curcumin target resistin-induced human endothelial activation partly via antioxidant mechanisms and suggest that they may represent therapeutic agents in vascular disease mediated by resistin.