Radiation induced apoptosis and pulmonary fibrosis: curcumin an effective intervention?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease characterized by interstitial remodeling, leading to compromised lung function. Extra vascular fibrin deposition and abnormalities in the fibrinolysis are the major clinical manifestations of lung diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI) and its most severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ALI progresses to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and makes patient's life miserable. Anti-fibrinolysis and apoptosis are involved in the progression of PF. Apoptotic markers are detectable within IPF lung tissue and senescent cell deletion can rejuvenate pulmonary health. Enhanced expression of p53 due to DNA damage is seen in irradiated lung tissue. The role of fibrinolytic components such as Urokinase Plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR) and Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has been detailed in I. Curcumin is known to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Radioprotective effect of curcumin enables it to attenuate radiation-induced inflammation and fibrosis. Understanding the mechanism of radioprotective effect of curcumin in radiation-induced PF and apoptosis can lead to the development of an effective therapeutic to combat acute lung injury and fibrosis.