Abstract

PURPOSE

Circulating microparticles have been highlighted as biomarkers of cardiovascular disease state and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin on microparticle release from endothelial cells undergoing TNF-induced cell activation and apoptosis.

METHODS

This study evaluated the effects of curcumin on microparticle release, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell adhesion molecule expression and monocyte adhesion in EAhy926 human endothelial cells.

RESULTS

The results showed that the numbers of microparticles were increased by tumour necrosis factor (TNF) or the combination of TNF and cycloheximide (CHX). Curcumin attenuated microparticle release caused by TNF or TNF plus CHX treatments. The pretreatment by curcumin not only negated the accelerated cell death and apoptosis caused by TNF and CHX, but also diminished TNF-induced cell activation, as assessed by reduced surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and adhesion of monocytes to endothelial monolayers.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin reduced microparticle release from endothelial cells undergoing cell activation and apoptosis, which supports its protective role in TNF-associated endothelial dysfunction, and highlights its potential use as a nutraceutical agent for vascular inflammatory diseases. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.

 Curcumin (> 98% HPLC) was purchased from Chengdu Biopurify Phytochemicals Ltd. (China)