Curcumin mitigates systemic lupus erythematosus by suppressing double-negative T cells through cell apoptosis

Curcumin extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumour properties. In previous studies, curcumin has been reported to have therapeutic effects on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which the upregulation of double-negative T (DNT) cells was detected. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the role of curcumin in the remission of SLE by regulating DNT cell homeostasis.

Two established murine models of lupus, MRL/lpr mice and R848-induced mice, were administered with 50 mg/kg curcumin to evaluate its therapeutic effects. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportions of DNT cells, Treg cells and Th cells in mouse tissues. H&E staining and immunofluorescence were used to assess inflammatory cell infiltration and immune complex deposition in the kidney. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes and explore regulatory mechanisms, and western blot was used to detect protein expression.

Our results suggest that the accumulation of DNT cells is closely associated with lupus pathogenesis and development in both mouse models, whereas curcumin treatment can improve lupus serological and immunological profiles, and regulate T-cell homeostasis, especially DNT cells. Further studies demonstrated that curcumin promoted DNT cell apoptosis to eventually decrease the accumulation of DNT cells.

Curcumin can improve lupus serological and immunological profiles as well as renal pathology by suppressing DNT cells, and may be a potential candidate for the treatment of SLE.