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Focaccetti C, Palumbo C, Benvenuto M, Carrano R, Melaiu O, Nardozi D, Angiolini V, Lucarini V, Kërpi B, Masuelli L, Cifaldi L, Bei R. The Combination of Bioavailable Concentrations of Curcumin and Resveratrol Shapes Immune Responses While Retaining the Ability to Reduce Cancer Cell Survival. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:232. [PMID: 38203402 PMCID: PMC10779126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The polyphenols Curcumin (CUR) and Resveratrol (RES) are widely described for their antitumoral effects. However, their low bioavailability is a drawback for their use in therapy. The aim of this study was to explore whether CUR and RES, used at a bioavailable concentration, could modulate immune responses while retaining antitumor activity and to determine whether CUR and RES effects on the immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor growth inhibition could be improved by their combination. We demonstrate that the low-dose combination of CUR and RES reduced the survival of cancer cell lines but had no effect on the viability of PBMCs. Although following CUR + RES treatment T lymphocytes showed an enhanced activated state, RES counteracted the increased IFN-γ expression induced by CUR in T cells and the polyphenol combination increased IL-10 production by T regulatory cells. On the other hand, the combined treatment enhanced NK cell activity through the up- and downregulation of activating and inhibitory receptors and increased CD68 expression levels on monocytes/macrophages. Overall, our results indicate that the combination of CUR and RES at low doses differentially shapes immune cells while retaining antitumor activity, support the use of this polyphenol combinations in anticancer therapy and suggest its possible application as adjuvant for NK cell-based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Camilla Palumbo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Carrano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Ombretta Melaiu
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Valentina Angiolini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (V.L.); (L.M.)
| | - Valeria Lucarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (V.L.); (L.M.)
| | - Bora Kërpi
- Department of Biomedicine, Catholic University ‘Our Lady of Good Counsel’, 1000 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.A.); (V.L.); (L.M.)
| | - Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.F.); (C.P.); (M.B.); (R.C.); (O.M.); (D.N.); (L.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University ‘Our Lady of Good Counsel’, 1000 Tirana, Albania
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