Curcumin up regulates T helper 1 cells in patients with colon cancer

The therapy for the advanced colon cancer (Cca) is unsatisfactory currently. To regulate the immune effector cell function has shown a positive effect on the treatment of advanced cancers. This study tests a hypothesis that administration with curcumin converts the Cca patient-derived regulatory T cells (Treg) to T helper (Th) 1 cells. In this study, a group of patients with advanced Cca was recruited into this study. The patients were treated with curcumin. The peripheral Tregs and Th1 cells were assessed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, after the curcumin therapy, the forkhead box protein (Foxp) 3 positive Treg frequency was markedly reduced, the frequency of Th1 cells was significantly increased in Cca patients. Treating with curcumin repressed the Foxp3 gene transcription in Tregs; the Tregs were then converted into Th1 cells. The results also revealed that Foxp3 bound T-bet to prevent IFN-γ expression in CD4⁺ T cells, which was abolished by treating with curcumin. In conclusion, the administration of curcumin can convert Tregs to Th1 cells via repressing Foxp3 expression and enhancing IFN-γ production.