Effect of curcumin on immune function of mice
1Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Insights
Curcumin modulates mouse immune function, enhancing macrophage phagocytosis and lymphocyte proliferation at low doses while suppressing it at high doses. This immune regulation is linked to the suppression of NFkappaB p65 activity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Its precise effects on immune cell function, particularly in a dose-dependent manner, require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dose-dependent effects of curcumin on mouse immune responses.
- To examine curcumin's impact on lymphocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis, and NFkappaB p65 expression.
Main Methods:
- Mice spleen lymphocytes proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay.
- Peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis function was evaluated.
- Western Blot was employed to determine the expression of NFkappaB p65 in spleen lymphocytes.
Main Results:
- Curcumin enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages.
- Low-dose curcumin upregulated spleen lymphocyte proliferation, whereas high-dose curcumin suppressed it.
- Curcumin was found to suppress the expression of NFkappaB p65.
Conclusions:
- Curcumin exhibits dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects in mice.
- The observed immunomodulation may be mediated by the suppression of NFkappaB p65 activity.
Abstract:
To investigate the effect of curcumin on immune function of mice, the effect of curcumin was examined on the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes of mice and the function of phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophage by using MTT test and the expression of the nucleoprotein of NFkappaB p65 was determined in spleen lymphocytes by employing Western Blot. Our results showed that curcumin could enhance the phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages. Lowdose curcumin could upregulate the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes of mice, and highdose curcumin could suppress the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes. Curcumin could suppress the expression of NFkappaB p65. Our study suggested that curcumin can regulate immune function of mice in a dosedependent manner. The possible underlying mechanism might be its ability to suppress the activity of NFkappaB p65.
