K. Kato et al., STIMULATION OF THE STRESS-INDUCED EXPRESSION OF STRESS PROTEINS BY CURCUMIN IN CULTURED-CELLS AND IN RAT-TISSUES IN-VIVO, Cell stress & chaperones, 3(3), 1998, pp. 152-160
Curcumin, a major component of turmeric, a seasoning commonly used in
Indian food, and a known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carci
nogenic agent, is a potent stimulator of the stress-induced expression
of Hsp27, alpha B crystallin and Hsp70. When C6 rat glioma cells were
exposed to arsenite (100 mu M for 1 h), CdCl2 (100 mu M for 1 h) or h
eat (42 degrees C for 30 min) in the presence of 3-10 mu M curcumin, i
nduction of the synthesis of all three proteins was markedly stimulate
d, as detected by specific immunoassays, Western blot analysis and Nor
thern blot analysis. A gel mobility shift assay revealed that curcumin
prolonged the stress-induced activation of the heat shock element-bin
ding (HSE-binding) activity of heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) i
n the cultured cells. The stimulatory effect of curcumin on the respon
ses to stress was also observed in BRL-3A rat liver cells and Swiss 3T
3 mouse fibroblasts. Induction of Hsp27, alpha beta crystallin and Hsp
70 in the liver and adrenal glands of heat-stressed (42 degrees C for
20 min) rats was also enhanced by prior injection of curcumin (20 mg/k
g body weight). As curcumin is a potent inhibitor of arachidonic acid
metabolism, it is suggested that the mechanism of the stimulation by c
urcumin of the stress responses might be similar to that of salicylate
, indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid.