Inhibition of intestinal tumors by curcumin is associated with changes in the intestinal immune cell profile

Background The C57BL/6J-Min/+ (Min/+) mouse bears a germline mutation in Ap e and is therefore a model for familial adenomatous polyposis and sporadic colorectal cancer. Min/+ intestinal mucosa exhibits a marked tendency for s pontaneous adenoma formation. Curcumin is a phenolic antioxidant known for its antitumor and immune modulatory functions in vitro. Curcumin prevents a denoma formation in Min/+ mice, through a mechanism that may be related to its immunomodulatory properties. Materials and methods. To study the relationship between intestinal immunit y and curcumin-induced antitumor response, we used immunohistochemistry to characterize the effect of curcumin treatment on resident intestinal immune effector cells in Min/+ mice. Results/conclusion. These results show that mucosal CD4(+) T cells and B ce lls increase in animals treated with curcumin, suggesting that curcumin mod ulates lymphocyte-mediated immune functions. (C) 2000 Academic Press.