Curcumin as a double-edged sword for stem cells: dose, time and cell type-specific responses to curcumin

Neurological recovery and neurogenesis by curcumin sustained-release system cross-linked with an acellular spinal cord scaffold in rat spinal cord injury: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

In the context of treating spinal cord injury (SCI), the modulation of inflammatory responses, and the creation of a suitable region for tissue regeneration may present a promising approach. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin (Cur)-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (Cur-BSA NPs) cross-linked with an acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) on the functional recovery in a rat model of SCI. We developed an ASCS using chemical and physical methods. Cur-BSA, and blank (B-BSA) NPs were fabricated and cross-linked with ASCS via EDC-NHS, resulting in the production of Cur-ASCS and B-ASCS. We assessed the properties of scaffolds and NPs as well as their cross-links. Finally, using a male rat hemisection model of SCI, we investigated the consequences of the resulting scaffolds. The inflammatory markers, neuroregeneration, and functional recovery were evaluated. Our results showed that Cur was efficiently entrapped at the rate of 42% ± 1.3 in the NPs. Compared to B-ASCS, Cur-ASCS showed greater effectiveness in the promotion of motor recovery. The implantation of both scaffolds could increase the migration of neural stem cells (Nestin- and GFAP-positive cells) following SCI with the superiority of Cur-ASCS. Cur-ASCS was successful to regulate the gene expression and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1in the spinal cord lesion. Our results indicate that using ASCS can lead to the entrance of cells into the scaffold and promote neurogenesis. However, Cur-ASCS had greater effects in terms of inflammation relief and enhanced neurogenesis.

Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Biomarkers in Diabetic Wistar Rats with Periodontal Disease

BACKGROUND

The association of periodontal disease and diabetes is a subject of intense research in terms of etiopathology and treatment options. This research aimed to evaluate the modulation of the local inflammatory status by two natural extracts, curcumin (Cu) and rutin (R), in an experimentally induced diabetes and periodontal disease in Wistar rats.

METHODS

Fifty Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: Control (C), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease (DP), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with Curcumin (DPCu), Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with Rutin (DPR), and Diabetes-associated Periodontal Disease treated with both Curcumin and Rutin (DPCuR). Gingival samples were collected from all rats, and immunohistochemical markers CD3, CD20, and CD34 were evaluated to assess the local inflammatory infiltrate. Descriptive statistics were applied (SPSS24 Software, Armonk, NY, USA).

RESULTS

Rutin, alone or combined with Curcumin, reduced CD3-positive cell levels. Curcumin demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing CD20-positive cells. The combination of Curcumin and Rutin had the most important impact on both markers. Curcumin notably increased immature CD34-positive cell levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin and Rutin, either alone or together, hold potential for reducing local inflammation in diabetes-induced periodontal disease in Wistar rats.

Apigenin and Rutaecarpine reduce the burden of cellular senescence in bone marrow stromal stem cells

Introduction

Osteoporosis is a systemic age-related disease characterized by reduced bone mass and microstructure deterioration, leading to increased risk of bone fragility fractures. Osteoporosis is a worldwide major health care problem and there is a need for preventive approaches.

Methods and results

Apigenin and Rutaecarpine are plant-derived antioxidants identified through functional screen of a natural product library (143 compounds) as enhancers of osteoblastic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal stem cells (hBMSCs). Global gene expression profiling and Western blot analysis revealed activation of several intra-cellular signaling pathways including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and TGFβ. Pharmacological inhibition of FAK using PF-573228 (5 μM) and TGFβ using SB505124 (1μM), diminished Apigenin- and Rutaecarpine-induced osteoblast differentiation. In vitro treatment with Apigenin and Rutaecarpine, of primary hBMSCs obtained from elderly female patients enhanced osteoblast differentiation compared with primary hBMSCs obtained from young female donors. Ex-vivo treatment with Apigenin and Rutaecarpine of organotypic embryonic chick-femur culture significantly increased bone volume and cortical thickness compared to control as estimated by μCT-scanning.

Discussion

Our data revealed that Apigenin and Rutaecarpine enhance osteoblastic differentiation, bone formation, and reduce the age-related effects of hBMSCs. Therefore, Apigenin and Rutaecarpine cellular treatment represent a potential strategy for maintaining hBMSCs health during aging and osteoporosis.

Co-treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and curcumin improved angiogenesis in myocardium in a rat model of MI

BACKGROUND

The cardioprotective properties of mesenchymal stem cells and the therapeutic potential of curcumin (CUR) have been explored. Combining these approaches may enhance stem cell effectiveness and expedite healing. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of co-treating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with curcumin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, in a rat model of myocardial ischemia (MI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty-five male rats were divided into four groups: G1 (healthy control), G2 (MI induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride), G3 (treated with BMSCs), and G4 (co-treated with curcumin and BMSCs). Blood and tissue samples were collected at specific time points (day 1, 7, 15 and 21) after MI induction. Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), CK-MB and VEGF were measured. VEGF mRNA and protein expression were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blot techniques. Histopathological assessments were performed using H&E staining and CD31 immunofluorescence staining. VEGF expression significantly increased on days 7 and 15 in the CUR-BMSCs group, peaking on day 7. Western blot analysis confirmed elevated VEGF protein expression on days 7 and 15 post-MI. ELISA results demonstrated increased serum VEGF levels on days 7 and 15, reaching the highest level on day 7 in CUR-BMSCs-treated animals. Treated groups showed lower levels of LDH, AST, CK, CK-MB and cTnI compared to the untreated MI group. H&E staining revealed improved myocardial structure, increased formation of new capillaries, in both treatment groups compared to the MI group.

CONCLUSION

Combining curcumin with BMSCs promotes angiogenesis in the infarcted myocardium after 15 days of MI induction. These findings suggest the potential of this combined therapy approach for enhancing cardiac healing and recovery.

Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Post-Spinal-Cord-Injury Anxiety and Depression: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

The majority of research on the long-term effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) has primarily focused on neuropathic pain (NP), psychological issues, and sensorimotor impairments. Among SCI patients, mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, have been extensively studied. It has been found that chronic stress and NP have negative consequences and reduce the quality of life for individuals living with SCI. Our review examined both human and experimental evidence to explore the connection between mood changes following SCI and inflammatory pathways, with a specific focus on NLRP3 inflammasome signaling. We observed increased proinflammatory factors in the blood, as well as in the brain and spinal cord tissues of SCI models. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a crucial role in various diseases by controlling the release of proinflammatory molecules like interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-18. Dysregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in key brain regions associated with pain processing, such as the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, contributes to the development of mood disorders following SCI. In this review, we summarized recent research on the expression and regulation of components related to NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in mood disorders following SCI. Finally, we discussed potential therapeutic approaches that target the NLRP3 inflammasome and regulate proinflammatory cytokines as a way to treat mood disorders following SCI.

Investigation of the effects of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and curcumin on Achilles tendon healing - can they act synergistically?

BACKGROUND

It is known that curcumin and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) positively affect experi-mental tendon injury healing. This study investigated individual effects and potential synergistic effects of using curcumin and UC-MSCs alone and together.

METHODS

Eighty female Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, curcumin, sesame oil, MSCs, and Curcumin+MSCs groups. In all rats, punch tendon defect was created in both right and left Achilles tendons. While no additional treatment was applied to the control group, curcumin, sesame oil used as a solvent for curcumin, MSCs, and MSCs and curcumin com-bination were applied locally to the injury site, respectively, in the other groups. Curcumin was solved in sesame oil before application. In each group, half of the animals were euthanized in the post-operative 2nd week while the other half were euthanized in the post-operative 4th week. The right Achilles was used for biomechanical testing, while the left Achilles was used for histological evaluation and immunohistochemical analysis of type I, Type III collagen, and tenomodulin.

RESULTS

Histologically, significant improvement was observed in the curcumin, MSCs, and Curcumin+ MSCs groups compared to the control Group in the 2nd week. In the 2nd and 4th weeks, Type III collagen was significantly increased in the curcumin group com-pared to the control group. In week 4, tenomodulin increased significantly in the curcumin and MSCs groups compared to the control group. Tendon tensile strength increased significantly in MSCs and Curcumin+MSCs groups compared to the control group in the 4th week. No superiority was observed between the treatment groups regarding their positive effects on recovery.

CONCLUSION

Locally used curcumin and UC-MSCs showed positive effects that were not superior to each other in the healing of injury caused by a punch in the Achilles tendons of rats. However, synergistic effects on healing were not observed when they were applied together.

Curcumin ameliorates chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced affective disorders through modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress

Objectives

Long-term infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with affective disorders (i.e., anxiety and depression) in adults. We aimed to explore the effects of curcumin (CR) on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice infected with T. gondii.

Materials and Methods

Animals were studied in five groups: Control, Model, Model + CR20, 40, and 80 (with IP injection of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg CR). T. gondii infection was prolonged for four weeks. The animals were then treated with CR or vehicle for two weeks and evaluated by behavioral tests at the end of the study. Hippocampal levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase; SOD, glutathione; GSH, and malondialdehyde; MDA) and gene expression and protein levels of hippocampal proinflammatory mediators (interleukin-1β; IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor- α; TNF-α) were determined.

Results

Behavioral tests confirmed that long-term infection with T. gondii led to anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Antidepressant effects of CR were linked to modulation of oxidative stress and cytokine network in the hippocampal region of infected mice. These results showed that CR reduced anxiety and depression symptoms via regulation of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of T. gondii-infected mice.

Conclusion

Therefore, CR can be used as a potential antidepressant agent against T. gondii-induced affective disorders.

Pharmacological activities and effective substances of the component-based Chinese medicine of Ginkgo biloba leaves based on serum pharmacochemistry, metabonomics and network pharmacology

As a potential drug candidate for the treatment of hypertension and complications, it is speculated that the component-based Chinese medicine of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBCCM) which mainly composed of flavonoid aglycones (FAs) and terpene lactones (TLs) may have different pharmacological effects at different doses or ratios. Taking the normal mice as the study object, metabonomics was conducted by giving different doses of GBCCM. Based on the components of GBCCM absorbed into the blood, the network pharmacological prediction was carried out. By integrating the results of metabonomics and network pharmacology, predict the possible pharmacological effects of GBCCM and conduct experimental verification. It was found that eight of the 19 compounds in GBCCM could be absorbed into the blood. GBCCM mainly affected the signal pathways of unsaturated fatty acid, pyruvate, bile acid, melanin and stem cells. It was speculated that GBCCM might have activities such as lowering blood pressure, regulating stem cell proliferation and melanogenesis. By establishing the models of mushroom tyrosinase, rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), we found that FAs and TLs showed synergistic effect in hypertension and tyrosinase models, and the optimal ratio was 3:2 (4.4 mg/kg) and 1:1 (0.4 mg/ml), respectively. As effective substances, FAs significantly promoted the proliferation of rat BMSCs on the third and fifth days at the concentration of 0.2 μg/ml (p < 0.05). GBCCM showed a variety of pharmacological effects at different doses and ratios, which provided an important reference for the druggability of GBCCM.

Role of curcumin and its nanoformulations in the treatment of neurological diseases through the effects on stem cells

Curcumin from turmeric is a natural phenolic compound with a promising potential to regulate fundamental processes involved in neurological diseases, including inflammation, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and apoptosis at the molecular level. In this regard, employing nanoformulation can improve curcumin efficiency by reducing its limitations, such as low bioavailability. Besides curcumin, growing data suggest that stem cells are a noteworthy candidate for neurodegenerative disorders therapy due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and neuronal-differentiation properties, which result in neuroprotection. Curcumin and stem cells have similar neurogenic features and can be co-administered in a cell-drug delivery system to achieve better combination therapeutic outcomes for neurological diseases. Based on the evidence, curcumin can induce the neuroprotective activity of stem cells by modulating their related signalling pathways. The present review is about the role of curcumin and its nanoformulations in the improvement of neurological diseases alone and through the effect on different categories of stem cells by discussing the underlying mechanisms to provide a roadmap for future investigations.

Effectiveness of Apigenin, Resveratrol, and Curcumin as Adjuvant Nutraceuticals for Calvarial Bone Defect Healing: An In Vitro and Histological Study on Rats

Bone healing is a major clinical issue, especially in bone defects of critical dimensions. Some studies have reported in vivo positive effects on bone healing by some bioactive compounds, such as the phenolic derivatives found in vegetables and plants, such as resveratrol, curcumin, and apigenin. The aim of this work was (1) to analyze in vitro in human dental pulp stem cells the effects of these three natural compounds on the gene expression of related genes downstream to RUNX2 and SMAD5, key factor transcriptions associated with osteoblast differentiation, in order to better understand the positive effects that can occur in vivo in bone healing, and (2) to evaluate in vivo the effects on bone healing of critical-size defects in the calvaria in rats of these three nutraceuticals tested in parallel and for the first time administered by the gastric route. Upregulation of the RUNX2, SMAD5, COLL1, COLL4, and COLL5 genes in the presence of apigenin, curcumin, and resveratrol was detected. In vivo, apigenin induced more consistent significant bone healing in critical-size defects in rat calvaria compared to the other study groups. The study findings encourage a possible therapeutic supplementation with nutraceuticals during the bone regeneration process.

The protective role of curcumin in human dental pulp stem cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide via inhibiting NF-κB p65 phosphorylation to suppress NLRP3 inflammasome activation

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin and underlying mechanisms regarding the modulation of the nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The impact of curcumin on the viability of hDPSCs was evaluated. The effect of curcumin on the expression of IL-1β and NLRP3 in hDPSCs stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was assessed. Then, LPS-primed hDPSCs were pre-treated with curcumin before ATP triggering NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and NLRP3 inflammasome-related mediators were assessed. The mechanism of curcumin inactivation of LPS plus ATP-induced inflammasome associated with NF-κB pathway was explored. The NF-κB pathway related pro-inflammatory mediators at mRNA and protein levels were evaluated. The expression of NF-κB p65 and phosphorylation p65 was visualized after curcumin or NF-κB inhibitor administrating respectively in hDPSCs with an activated NLRP3 inflammasome. Statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

While curcumin at the concentration of 0.5-5 μM showed no obvious impact on the viability of hDPSCs, it significantly decreased IL-1β and NLRP3 mRNA expression in LPS-induced hDPSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin significantly inhibited the LPS plus ATP-primed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in hDPSCs (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β). Curcumin evidently attenuated the LPS plus ATP-induced expression of NF-κB pathway-related pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and COX-2). Furthermore, curcumin effectively reduced p65 phosphorylation, which acts as an NF-κB inhibitor in hDPSCs with an activated NLRP3 inflammasome.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin pre-treatment may exert an anti-inflammatory role via inactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by inhibiting NF-κB p65 phosphorylation in cultured hDPSCs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Curcumin may have therapeutic potential in pulp inflammation.

Effects of Resveratrol, Curcumin and Quercetin Supplementation on Bone Metabolism—A Systematic Review

Phenolic compounds are natural phytochemicals that have recently reported numerous health benefits. Resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin have recently received the most attention among these molecules due to their documented antioxidant effects. The review aims to investigate the effects of these molecules on bone metabolism and their role in several diseases such as osteopenia and osteoporosis, bone tumours, and periodontitis. The PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase electronic databases were searched for papers in line with the study topic. According to an English language restriction, the screening period was from January 2012 to 3 July 2022, with the following Boolean keywords: (“resveratrol” AND “bone”); (“curcumin” AND “bone”); (“quercetin” AND “bone”). A total of 36 papers were identified as relevant to the purpose of our investigation. The studies reported the positive effects of the investigated phenolic compounds on bone metabolism and their potential application as adjuvant treatments for osteoporosis, bone tumours, and periodontitis. Furthermore, their use on the titanium surfaces of orthopaedic prostheses could represent a possible application to improve the osteogenic processes and osseointegration. According to the study findings, resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin are reported to have a wide variety of beneficial effects as supplement therapies. The investigated phenolic compounds seem to positively mediate bone metabolism and osteoclast-related pathologies.

Autophagy-induced mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated renal fibrosis in an in vitro model

Introduction

Chronic and progressive damage to the kidney by inflammatory processes, may lead to an increase in the extracellular matrix production, a condition known as renal fibrosis. The current study aims to evaluate if the extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from autophagic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) can reduce the inflammation and extracellular matrix accumulation in damaged kidney tissue.

Methods

Autophagy was induced in ADMSCs using 2µM concentration curcumin and was confirmed by evaluating LC3B, ATG7, and Beclin1 using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. An in vitro renal fibrotic model was established in HEK-293 cells exposed to H2O2 (0.8mM) for 24 and 72 hours. The fibrotic model was confirmed through evaluation of collagen I, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), E-cadherin, and vimentin genes expression using real-time PCR, collagen I protein by ELISA. After induction of fibrosis for 24 and 72 hours, the HEK cells were treated with NEVs (non-autophagy EVs) (50µM) or AEVs (autophagy EVs) (50µM) at 48, 96, and 124 hours, and then the samples were collected at 72 and 148 hours. Expression of collagen I, TGF-β1, E-cadherin, and vimentin Genes was evaluated via RT-PCR, and protein levels of IL1, TNF-α, IL4, IL10 using ELISA.

Results

Induction of autophagy using curcumin (2µM) for 24 hours significantly increased LC3B, Beclin1, and ATG7 in the ADMSCs. Upregulation in anti-fibrotic (E-cadherin) and anti-inflammatory (IL4, IL10) gene expression was significantly different in the fibrotic model treated by AEVs compared to NEVs. Also, the downregulation of fibrotic (TGF-β1, vimentin, collagen I) and pro-inflammatory (IL1, TNFα) gene expression was significantly different in AEVs compared with those treated by NEVs.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that AEVs can be considered as a therapeutic modality for renal fibrosis in the future.

Antioxidants Attenuate Heat Shock Induced Premature Senescence of Bovine Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have many roles that are important for the body's proper functioning. When the MSC pool is damaged, it is often correlated with impaired development or health of the organism. MSC are known for their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and trophic characteristics that play an important role in the physiological homeostasis of many tissues. Heat shock impairs MSC capacity by inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction, which, in turn, send the cells into a state of premature senescence. Here, we pre-exposed MSC to melatonin, resveratrol, or curcumin, which are natural antioxidative compounds, and tested the protective effects of these substances from oxidative stress and aging. Our data showed that pre-exposure of MSC to antioxidants decreased reactive oxygen species while mitochondrial damage remained high. Additionally, although the proliferation of the cells was slow, antioxidants protected the cells from premature senescence, and subsequent cytokine release was prevented. We conclude that while elevated temperatures directly cause mitochondrial damage, senescence is induced by elevated ROS levels. We suggest that heat shock alters cell and tissue homeostasis by several independent mechanisms; however, reducing tissue senescence will reduce damage and provide a pathway to overcome physiological challenges in animals.

Expression of immunomodulatory and tissue regenerative biomarkers in human dental pulp derived-mesenchymal stem cells treated with curcumin: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND

Human Dental pulp derived-mesenchymal stem cells (hDP-MSCs) have the capability of selfrenewal, multipotency, as well as immunosuppressive properties. They are ideal candidates for regenerating damaged dental tissue and treating inflammation-related diseases. However, methods (such as genetic variation) to improve the immunomodulatory and regenerative efficiency of MSCs in different diseases still need to be developed. Curcumin (CUR) is known for its broad applications in regenerative medicine and the treatment of inflammatory disorders via its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. This study was conducted to investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of CUR on the immunomodulatory and regenerative function of hDP-MSCs and whether treating these cells with CUR can improve therapeutic efficacy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

hDP-MSCs were isolated from dental pulp and then treated with CUR. Cell viability rate was observed in hDP-MSCs after treatment of CUR by MTT assay. Real-time quantitative (RT-PCR) was applied to estimate the expression of immunomodulatory and regenerative genes after treatment of CUR. The RT-PCR results showed that VEGF-A and STAT3 markers were up-regulated while HLA-G5 and VCAM-1 markers were down-regulated by CUR (20 µM) treatment in hDP-MSCs (P < 0.001). Besides, this research indicated that there were no significant changes in the expressions of RelA and DSPP after 48 h (P = 0.33, P = 1).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that CUR can enhance the immunomodulatory and regenerative effects of hDP-MSCs and improve their therapeutic efficacy. These findings can give an understanding of the mechanism for improving restorative and immunomodulatory activity in hDP-MSCs by curcumin.

Hormesis and neural stem cells

This paper provides a detailed identification and assessment of hormetic dose responses in neural stem cells (NSCs) as identified in a number of animal models and human tissues, with particular emphasis on cell proliferation and differentiation. Hormetic dose responses were commonly observed following administration of a number of agents, including dietary supplements [e.g., berberine, curcumin, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), Ginkgo Biloba, resveratrol], pharmaceuticals (e.g., lithium, lovastatin, melatonin), endogenous ligands [e.g., hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), magnesium, progesterone, taurine], environmental contaminants (e.g., arsenic, rotenone) and physical agents [e.g., hypoxia, ionizing radiation, electromagnetic radiation (EMF)]. These data indicate that numerous agents can induce hormetic dose responses to upregulate key functions of such as cell proliferation and differentiation in NSCs, and enhance resilience to inflammatory stresses. The paper assesses both putative mechanisms of hormetic responses in NSCs, and the potential therapeutic implications and application(s) of hormetic frameworks in clinical approaches to neurological injury and disease.

Curcumin nanocrystals attenuate cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity in mice

The cancer therapy using cyclophosphamide (CP) has been associated with adverse effects on the testicular function that raises concerns about the future fertility potential among cancer survivors. Curcumin, a polyphenol, has shown to possess a plethora of biological functions including tissue protective effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of curcumin nanocrystals (NC) in mitigation of CP-induced testicular toxicity. Healthy adult (8-10 week) and prepubertal (2 week) male Swiss albino mice were injected with a single dose of CP (200 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p). NC (4 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered every alternate day, for 35 days in adult mice while, a single dose of NC was injected intraperitoneally to prepubertal mice 1 h prior to CP. Administration of multiple doses of NC ameliorated CP-induced testicular toxicity in adult mice, which was evident from the improved sperm functional competence, sperm chromatin condensation, seminiferous tubule architecture and decreased apoptosis in testicular cells. Further, administration of NC 1 h prior to CP in prepubertal mice modulated the expression of genes pertaining to proliferation, pluripotency, DNA damage and DNA repair in spermatogonial cells at 24 h after the treatment. Overall, these results suggest that NC could be a promising chemoprotective agent, which can have potential application in male fertility preservation.

Curcumin nanoformulations to combat aging-related diseases

Aging increases the susceptibility to a diverse set of diseases and disorders, including neurodegeneration, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Natural compounds are currently being explored as alternative or complementary agents to treat or prevent aging-related malfunctions. Curcumin, a phytochemical isolated from the spice turmeric, has garnered great interest in recent years. With anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and other physiological activities, curcumin has great potential for health applications. However, the benefits of curcumin are restricted by its low bioavailability and stability in biological systems. Curcumin nanoformulations, or nano-curcumin, may overcome these limitations. This review discusses different forms of nano-curcumin that have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo to treat or prevent aging-associated health impairments. We describe current barriers for the routine use of curcumin nanoformulations in the clinic. Our review highlights outstanding questions and future work that is needed to ensure nano-curcumin is efficient and safe to lessen the burden of aging-related health problems.

Curcumin restores the engraftment capacity of aged hematopoietic stem cells and also reduces PD-1 expression on cytotoxic T cells

Aging affects the functionality of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and therefore, aged individuals are not preferred as donors in HSC transplantation. Such elimination leads to the restriction of donor cohort. Several efforts are being done to rejuvenate aged HSCs. Here, we show that treatment of aged mice with curcumin rejuvenates their HSCs by restoring the expression of autophagy-inducing messenger RNAs in them, and improves their engraftment capacity. Importantly, we show that curcumin is effective in rejuvenation of HSCs when administered via both, intraperitoneal as well as oral routes. Aging also affects the immune system. While elderly individuals are not immuno-deficient, they do not respond optimally to immunizations, and hence, a strategy needs to be developed to make them immunologically responsive. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), one of the inhibitory coreceptors, plays an important role in the regulation of autoimmunity, infectious immunity, and cancer immunity. Its expression on T cells is indicative of their exhaustion. Here, we show that curcumin reduces the frequency of PD1+ cytotoxic T cells in the spleens of aged mice. Curcumin has a proven safety profile, and hence, can be used to treat aged donors to boost the functionality of their HSCs and also to improve the immunological profile of aged individuals. These data could have implications in various other regenerative medicine protocols as well.

Complex effect of continuous curcumin exposure on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell regenerative properties through matrix metalloproteinase regulation

Curcumin has been reported to be beneficial for cancers, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, based on its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-tumorigenic and neuroprotective properties. With its high-dose application, curcumin toxicity to systemic tissues is a reasonable concern. Here, we report the responses of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) to continuous curcumin exposure. hBM-MSCs were treated with 0.01-100 μmol/L curcumin continuously in vitro for 7 days. 25 μmol/L curcumin or above significantly attenuated hBM-MSC maintenance, whereas 10 μmol/L curcumin reduced hBM-MSC proliferation and hindered their migration with increasing cell apoptosis. Besides, 5 μmol/L curcumin treatment inhibited hBM-MSC adipogenic differentiation, but enhanced osteogenic differentiation, which depended on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 expression and activity. Furthermore, curcumin treatment reduced MMP1 expression but up-regulated the immunomodulatory gene IDO1 expression. In summary, this study revealed the complex effects of continuous curcumin exposure on hBM-MSC maintenance and regenerative properties through MMP regulation. Given the complex effects of curcumin, its use for biomedical purposes should be carefully considered in treatment length and dosage.

Comparison of Effects of Curcumin and Nano-curcumin on the Survival of Human-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An Experimental Study

Aim:

To evaluate and compare the effect of curcumin (CUR) and Nano-curcumin (N-CUR) on human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a dose-dependent manner.

Materials and Methods:

An experimental study performed with putative MSCs from a total of five systemically healthy subjects with chronic periodontitis. These putative MSCs were isolated by cell culture and were further characterized and identified by colony-forming unit assay and immunocytochemical analysis using cell surface markers CD105, CD146, CD45 and CD73. The identified MSCs were treated with different doses of CUR and N-CUR, and compared with α-minimum essential medium (α -MEM) for its cell viability by performing MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay for 48 and 72 hr. The statistically analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test and Bonferroni’s post hoc test.

Results:

Compared to the α-MEM group, both CUR and N-CUR treated cells have shown significantly ( P = .029) higher survival rate at lower concentration (0.1 and 0.5 µM/L), at 48 hr incubation. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the CUR and N-CUR groups on cell survival rate at both 48 and 72 hr incubation. When compared between the concentrations of the same group, significantly higher cell viability ( P = .001) was observed at lower concentrations (0.1, 0.5 µM/L) in both test groups after incubation for 48 and 72 hr.

Conclusion:

Both CUR and N-CUR have a dose-dependent effect on human derived MSCs survival when incubated for 48 hr, whereas N-CUR shows increased cell survival rate even at 72 hr of incubation. Although, the cautious use of CUR and N-CUR at higher concentrations is recommended.

Nanofibrous asymmetric collagen/curcumin membrane containing aspirin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for guided bone regeneration

The goal of the current study was to develop an asymmetric guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane benefiting from curcumin and aspirin. The membrane was prepared using electrospinning technique and then was physic-chemically characterized by the conventional methods. The release profile of aspirin from the prepared membrane was also measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Also, the antibacterial activities of the membrane was evaluated. We also assessed the in vitro effects of the prepared membrane on the biocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and evaluated in vivo bone regeneration using the prepared membrane in the defects created in both sides of the dog’s jaw by histology. The results from the characterization specified that the membrane was successfully prepared with monodispersed nanosized fibers, uniform network shaped morphology, negative surface charge and sustained release platform for aspirin. The membrane also showed antimicrobial effects against all tested bacteria. The presence of curcumin and aspirin in the asymmetric membrane enhanced osteogenic potential at both transcriptional and translational levels. The results of the animal test showed that the test area was completely filled with new bone after just 28 days, while the commercial membrane area remained empty. There was also a soft tissue layer above the new bone area in the test side. We suggested that the prepared membrane in this work could be used as a GBR membrane to keep soft tissue from occupying bone defects in GBR surgeries. Besides, the surgeries can be benefited from antibacterial activities and bone healing effects of this novel GBR membrane while, simultaneously, promoting bone regeneration.

Development of a Multifunctional Bioerodible Nanocomposite Containing Metronidazole and Curcumin to Apply on L-PRF Clot to Promote Tissue Regeneration in Dentistry

Teeth extractions are often followed by alveolar bone reabsorption, although an adequate level of bone is required for reliable rehabilitations by dental implants. Leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) has been widely applied in regenerative procedures and with antibiotic and antioxidant agents could play an essential role in hard and soft tissue healing. In this work, a nanocomposite (Sponge-C-MTR) consisting of a hyaluronate-based sponge loaded with metronidazole (MTR) and nanostructured lipid carriers containing curcumin (CUR-NLC) was designed to be wrapped in the L-PRF™ membrane in the post-extraction sockets and characterized. CUR-NLCs, obtained by homogenization followed by high-frequency sonication of the lipid mixture, showed loading capacity (5% w/w), drug recovery (95% w/w), spherical shape with an average particle size of 112.0 nm, and Zeta potential of -24 mV. Sponge-C-MTR was obtained by entrapping CUR-NLC in a hydrophilic matrix by a freeze-drying process, and physico-chemical and cytocompatibility properties were evaluated. Moreover, the aptitude of CUR and MTR to the penetrate and/or permeate both L-PRF™ and porcine buccal tissue was assessed, highlighting MTR penetration and CUR accumulation promoted by the system. The results positively support the action of nanocomposite in dental tissues regeneration when applied together with the L-PRF™.

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion: an update on physiopathology and novel traditional herbal and modern medical therapeutics

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion (PPA) is a serious clinical condition that affects the high percentage of patients after abdominal surgery. In this review, we have tried to focus on pathophysiology and different underlying signal pathways of adhesion formation based on recent progress in the molecular and cellular mechanisms. Also, the strategies, developed based on traditional herbal and modern medicines, to prevent and treat the PPA via regulation of the molecular mechanisms were investigated. The search engines such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct have been used to evaluate the current literature related to the pathogenesis of adhesion formation and novel products. Recently, different mechanisms have been defined for adhesion formation, mainly categorized in fibrin formation and adhesion fibroblast function, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Therefore, the suppression of these mechanisms via traditional and modern medicine has been suggested in several studies. While different strategies with encouraging findings have been developed, most of the studies showed contradictory results and were performed on animals. The herbal products have been introduced as safe and effective agent which can be considered in future preclinical and clinical studies. Although a wide range of therapeutics based on traditional and modern medicines have been suggested, there is no agreement in the efficacy of these methods to prevent or treat adhesion formation after surgeries. Further basic and clinical researches are still needed to propose the efficiency of recommended strategies for prevention and treatment of PPA.

Neuroprotective Effects of Medicinal Plants in Cerebral Hypoxia and Anoxia: A Systematic Review

Background:

Hypoxia and anoxia are dangerous and sometimes irreversible complications in the central nervous system (CNS), which in some cases lead to death.

Objective:

The aim of this review was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of medicinal plants in cerebral hypoxia and anoxia.

Methods:

The word hypox*, in combination with some herbal terms such as medicinal plant, phyto* and herb*, was used to search for relevant publications indexed in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and PubMed from 2000-2019.

Results:

Certain medicinal plants and herbal derivatives can exert their protective effects in several ways. The most important mechanisms are the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), production of NO, inhibition of both hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and tumor necrosis factor-alpha activation, and reduction of extracellular glutamate, N-Methyl-D-aspartic and intracellular Ca (2+). In addition, they have an antioxidant activity and can adjust the expression of genes related to oxidant generation or antioxidant capacity. These plants can also inhibit lipid peroxidation, up-regulate superoxide dismutase activity and inhibit the content of malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase. Moreover, they also have protective effects against cytotoxicity through down-regulation of the proteins that causes apoptosis, anti-excitatory activity, inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathway, reduction of pro-apoptotic proteins, and endoplasmic reticulum stress that causes apoptosis during hypoxia, increasing anti-apoptotic protein, inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase activation, decreasing proteases activity and DNA fragmentation, and upregulation of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase.

Conclusion:

The results indicated that medicinal plants and their compounds mainly exert their neuroprotective effects in hypoxia via regulating proteins that are related to antioxidant, anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory activities.

Restoring aged stem cell functionality: Current progress and future directions

Stem cell dysfunction is a hallmark of aging, associated with the decline of physical and cognitive abilities of humans and other mammals [Cell 2013;153:1194]. Therefore, it has become an active area of research within the aging and stem cell fields, and various techniques have been employed to mitigate the decline of stem cell function both in vitro and in vivo. While some techniques developed in model organisms are not directly translatable to humans, others show promise in becoming clinically relevant to delay or even mitigate negative phenotypes associated with aging. This review focuses on diet, treatment, and small molecule interventions that provide evidence of functional improvement in at least one type of aged adult stem cell.

Combination of curcumin with autologous transplantation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells leads to more efficient repair of damaged cerebral tissue of rat

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Can the neuroprotective agent curcumin affect restorative action of neural stem/progenitor cells in the injured rat brain? What is the main finding and its importance? In the presence of curcumin, transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells in the context of PuraMatrix reduced lesion size and reactive inflammatory responses, and boosted survival rate of grafted neurons. In addition it improved the neurological status of injured animals. This could be beneficial in designing new therapeutic approaches for brain injury based on this combination therapy.

ABSTRACT

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is catastrophic neurological damage associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. To date, there is no specific treatment for restoring lost brain tissue. In light of the complex pathology of brain injury, the present study evaluated the effects of combination therapy using autologous neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs), PuraMatrix (PM) and curcumin in an animal model of brain injury. After stereotactic biopsy of subventricular zone tissue and culture of NS/PCs, 36 male Wistar rats (150-200 g) were randomly divided into six groups receiving dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO),  curcumin (100 mg kg^-1 in DMSO), PM + curcumin (100 mg kg^-1 in DMSO), NS/PCs + curcumin (100 mg kg^-1 in DMSO), NS/PCs + PM + curcumin (100 mg kg^-1 in DMSO) and NS/PCs + PM + curcumin (1 µm) following acute brain injury. The animals were evaluated in term of neurological status for 4 weeks, then decapitated. Nissl and TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry for bromodeoxyuridine, glial fibrillary acidic protein, doublecortin, Map2, Olig2, Iba1 and CD68 were performed. We found that combination therapy by NS/PCs + PM + curcumin reduced the lesion size, astrogliosis, macrophage and microglial reaction as well as the number of apoptotic cells. Moreover, the transplanted cells were able to survive and differentiate after 4 weeks. Besides these findings, transplantation of NS/PCs in the context of PM and curcumin improved the neurological status of injured animals. In conclusion, our data suggest that this combination therapy can be beneficial in developing future therapeutic approaches for brain injury.

Cytoprotective effects of antioxidant supplementation on mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are earmarked as perfect candidates for cell therapy and tissue engineering due to their capacity to differentiate into different cell types. However, their potential for application in regenerative medicine declines when the levels of the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) increase from the physiological levels, a phenomenon which is at least inevitable in ex vivo cultures and air-exposed damaged tissues. Increased levels of RONS can alter the patterns of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation and inhibit proliferation, as well. Besides, oxidative stress enhances senescence and cell death, thus lowering the success rates of the MSC engraftment. Hence, in this review, we have selected some representatives of antioxidants and newly emerged nano antioxidants in three main categories, including chemical compounds, biometabolites, and protein precursors/proteins, which are proved to be effective in the treatment of MSCs. We will focus on how antioxidants can be applied to optimize the clinical usage of the MSCs and their associated signaling pathways. We have also reviewed several paralleled properties of some antioxidants and nano antioxidants which can be simultaneously used in real-time imaging, scaffolding techniques, and other applications in addition to their primary antioxidative function.

Anticancer Properties of Curcumin and Interactions With the Circadian Timing System

The phytochemical curcumin is a major component of turmeric. It has recognized activity against cancer cells and affects several intracellular signaling pathways. Many molecules targeted by curcumin also regulate the circadian timing system that has effects on carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. Although the circadian clock within cells may be suppressed in tumors, cancer cells are subjected to daily hormonal and neural activity that should be considered when timing optimal curcumin treatments. Rapid curcumin degradation in blood and tissues provides a challenge to maintaining sustained levels suitable for inducing cancer cell death, increasing the need to identify when during the circadian cycle rhythmically expressed molecular targets are present. Curcumin is well tolerated by individuals ingesting it for possible cancer prevention or in combination with conventional cancer therapies, and it shows low toxicity toward noncancerous cells at low dosages. In contrast, curcumin is particularly effective against cancer stem cells, which are treatment-resistant, aggressive, and tumor-initiating. Although curcumin has poor bioavailability, more stable curcumin analogs retain the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimitotic, and pro-apoptotic benefits of curcumin. Anticancer properties are also present in congeners of curcumin in turmeric and after curcumin reduction by intestinal microbes. Various commercial curcuminoid products are highly popular dietary supplements, but caution is warranted. Although antioxidant properties of curcumin may prevent carcinogenesis, studies suggest curcumin interferes with certain chemotherapeutic agents. This review delves into the complex network of curcuminoid effects to identify potential anticancer strategies that may work in concert with daily physiological cycles controlled by the circadian timing system.

Cancer stem cells and nanotechnological approaches for eradication

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are currently known as the main cause of tumor recurrence. After chemotherapy is completed, CSCs proliferate and then differentiate to generate new tumor tissues. Similar to normal stem cells, this non-uniformly distributed cell population in the tumor tissue has self-renewal capacity and is responsible for survival of the tumor and difference in its genetic and metabolic characteristics. Followed by gene instability in CSCs, new phenotypic markers are aberrantly expressed in CSCs subpopulation. Hence, some of the surface markers and metabolic pathways that are upregulated in CSCs may be applied as specific targets for development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In this review article, the distinctive properties of CSCs including signal pathways implicated in self-renewal and surface markers were discussed. Moreover, targeting CSCs based on their specific properties using nanodrugs was reviewed.

Curcumin, Hormesis and the Nervous System

Curcumin is a polyphenol compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn (family Zingiberaceae) commonly used as a spice to color and flavor food. Several preclinical studies have suggested beneficial roles for curcumin as an adjuvant therapy in free radical-based diseases, mainly neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, curcumin belongs to the family of hormetins and the enhancement of the cell stress response, mainly the heme oxygenase-1 system, is actually considered the common denominator for this dual response. However, evidence-based medicine has clearly demonstrated the lack of any therapeutic effect of curcumin to contrast the onset or progression of neurodegeneration and related diseases. Finally, the curcumin safety profile imposes a careful analysis of the risk/benefit balance prior to proposing chronic supplementation with curcumin.

Spinal cord injury: pathophysiology, treatment strategies, associated challenges, and future implications

Axonal regeneration and formation of tripartite (axo-glial) junctions at damaged sites is a prerequisite for early repair of injured spinal cord. Transplantation of stem cells at such sites of damage which can generate both neuronal and glial population has gained impact in terms of recuperation upon infliction with spinal cord injury. In spite of the fact that a copious number of pre-clinical studies using different stem/progenitor cells have shown promising results at acute and subacute stages, at the chronic stages of injury their recovery rates have shown a drastic decline. Therefore, developing novel therapeutic strategies are the need of the hour in order to assuage secondary morbidity and effectuate improvement of the spinal cord injury (SCI)-afflicted patients' quality of life. The present review aims at providing an overview of the current treatment strategies and also gives an insight into the potential cell-based therapies for the treatment of SCI.

Immunoregulatory, proliferative and anti-oxidant effects of nanocurcuminoids on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Curcuminoids are dietary complexes extracted from the seeds of Curcuma longa L. that contain curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and desmethoxycurcumin. Curcuminoids are popular for their pleiotropic therapeutic functions, such as their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Nonetheless, their clinical use is associated with poor systemic bioavailability and insolubility. The nano-formulation of curcuminoids eliminates these shortcomings. In the present study, we explored immunoregulatory, proliferative and anti-oxidant effects of nanocurcuminoids on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs). Flow cytometry analysis and MTT assay were employed to explore the effects of nanocurcuminoids on the apoptosis and proliferation of adipose-derived MSCs (AT-MSCs). The anti-oxidant effect of nanocurcuminoids on AT-MSCs also was examined. The immune regulatory effect of nanocurcuminoids was evaluated by the flow cytometric measurement of the T regulatory (Treg) population. The expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was quantified using real-time PCR. Our findings demonstrate that low concentrations of nanocurcuminoids are beneficial for MSC proliferation, protection of MSCs from apoptosis, reducing inflammatory cytokines and SOD activity. A high concentration of nanocurcuminoids increases the population of Tregs and elevates the expression of TGFβ and FOXP3 genes. The beneficial effects of nanocurcuminoids on AT-MSCs were mainly observed at low doses of nanocurcuminoids.

Adsorption and in vitro release study of curcumin form polyethyleneglycol functionalized multi walled carbon nanotube: kinetic and isotherm study

Polyethylene glycol functionalized with oxygenated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (O-PEG-MWCNTs) as an efficient nanomaterial for the in vitro adsorption/release of curcumin (CUR) anticancer agent. The synthesized material was morphologically characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the CUR adsorption process was assessed with kinetic and isotherm models fitting well with pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherms. The results showed that the proposed O-PEG-MWCNTs has a high adsorption capacity for CUR (2.0 × 10³ mg/g) based on the Langmuir model. The in vitro release of CUR from O-PEG-MWCNTs was studied in simulating human body fluids with different pHs (ABS pH 5, intestinal fluid pH 6.6 and body fluid pH 7.4). Lastly, to confirm the success compliance of the O-PEG-MWCNT nanocomposite as a drug delivery system, the parameters affecting the CUR release such as temperature and PEG content were investigated. As a result, the proposed nanocomposite could be used as an efficient carrier for CUR delivery with an enhanced prolonged release property. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Various strategies to improve efficacy of stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis: Focus on mesenchymal stem cells and neuroprotection

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which predominantly affect young adults and undergo heavy socioeconomic burdens. Conventional therapeutic modalities for MS mostly downregulate aggressive immune responses and are almost insufficient for management of progressive course of the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), due to both immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties have been known as practical cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like MS. However, clinical translation of MSCs is associated with some limitations such as short-life engraftment duration, little in vivo trans-differentiation and restricted accessibility into damaged sites. Therefore, laboratory manipulation of MSCs can improve efficacy of MSCs transplantation in MS patients. In this review, we discuss several novel approaches, which can potentially enhance MSCs capabilities for treating MS.

Switching from high-fat diet to foods containing resveratrol as a calorie restriction mimetic changes the architecture of arcuate nucleus to produce more newborn anorexigenic neurons

PURPOSE

These days, obesity threatens the health for which one of the main interventions is calorie restriction (CR). Due to the difficulty of compliance with this treatment, CR mimetics such as resveratrol (RSV) have been considered. The present study compared the effects of RSV and CR on hypothalamic remodeling in a diet-switching experiment.

METHODS

C57BL/6 male mice received high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks, subsequently their diet switched to chow diet, HFD + RSV, chow diet + RSV or CR diet for a further 6 weeks. Body weight, fat accumulation, hypothalamic apoptosis and expression of trophic factors as well as generation and fate specification of newborn cells in arcuate nucleus (ARC) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Switching diet to RSV-containing foods leading to weight and fat loss after 6 weeks. In addition, not only a significant reduction in apoptosis but also a considerable increase in production of newborn cells in ARC occurred following consumption of RSV-enriched diets. These were in line with augmentation of hypothalamic ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukemia inhibitory factor expression. Interestingly, RSV-containing diets changed the fate of newborn neurons toward generation of more proopiomelanocortin than neuropeptide Y neurons. The CR had effects similar to those of RSV-containing diets in the all-evaluated aspects besides neurogenesis in ARC.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both RSV-containing and CR diets changed the fate of newborn neurons to create an anorexigenic architecture for ARC, newborn neurons were more available after switching to RSV-enriched diets. It can be consider as a promising mechanism for future investigations.

Low-dose curcumin stimulates proliferation of rat embryonic neural stem cells through glucocorticoid receptor and STAT3

AIMS

This study was to determine whether curcumin had any effect on the proliferation of neural stem cell (NSC), analyze the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and Notch1 at transcription and protein level, and discuss the related mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

NSCs were harvested from E15 SD rat brain and cultured. All experiments were performed at the second passage. Cell cytotoxicity, cell viability, and proliferation assays were used to figure out the optimal concentration of curcumin, which can be used for the protein and mRNA studies. The results showed that by downregulation of GR and STAT3 expression, 0.5 μmol L^-1 curcumin exhibited the most pronounced effect in promoting the proliferation of NSCs, which were also induced by antagonists of GR and STAT3, but was inhibited by GR agonist.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that low-dose curcumin stimulates the proliferation of NSCs, which is probably by inhibiting the mRNA and protein expressions of GR and directly or indirectly regulating the STAT3 via the synergistic effect of GR and STAT3 pathways and its related signal pathways.

Autophagy is a major mechanism for the dual effects of curcumin on renal cell carcinoma cells

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of curcumin on renal cell carcinoma（RCC） through regulating autophagy. Cell viabilities were determined by MTT assay in RCC cells after treatment with curcumin at different concentrations for various durations. ATG7 silencing RCC cells were established to test the role of autophagy. The levels of key proteins on autophagy pathway were analyzed by Western blot. We found out that following 24 h curcumin treatment, the viability of RCC cells had an increase at 5 μM and no significant change at 20 μM but a decrease at 80 μM. These effects were affected by the inhibition of autophagy. When pre-incubated with inhibitors of the AMPK and ER stress pathways, the LC3II levels of RCC cells at 5 μM and 20 μM of curcumin were significantly decreased; however, when treated with the inhibitor of the oxidative stress pathway, the LC3II levels of RCC cells at 80 μM were significantly decreased. In conclusion, the present study indicated Curcumin protected cells from death at low concentration but promotes cell death at high concentration. Autophagy played a dual role in curcumin's effects on RCC. The AMPK and ER stress pathways might be involved at low concentrations of curcumin to protect cells, while the oxidative stress pathway might take part in toxicity at high curcumin concentration.

Neurogenesis in the aging brain

Adult neurogenesis is the process of producing new neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs) for integration into the brain circuitry. Neurogenesis occurs throughout life in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. However, during aging, NSCs and their progenitors exhibit reduced proliferation and neuron production, which is thought to contribute to age-related cognitive impairment and reduced plasticity that is necessary for some types of brain repair. In this review, we describe NSCs and their niches during tissue homeostasis and how they undergo age-associated remodeling and dysfunction. We also discuss some of the functional ramifications in the brain from NSC aging. Finally, we discuss some recent insights from interventions in NSC aging that could eventually translate into therapies for healthy brain aging.

Investigating the use of curcumin-loaded electrospun filaments for soft tissue repair applications

Electrospun filaments represent a new generation of medical textiles with promising applications in soft tissue repair. A potential strategy to improve their design is to combine them with bioactive molecules. Curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, is particularly attractive for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. However, investigating the range of relevant doses of curcumin in materials designed for tissue regeneration has remained limited. In this paper, a wide range of curcumin concentrations was explored and the potential of the resulting materials for soft tissue repair applications was assessed. Polydioxanone (PDO) filaments were prepared with various amounts of curcumin: 0%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, and 10% (weight to weight ratio). The results from the present study showed that, at low doses (≤0.1%), the addition of curcumin has no influence on the spinning process or on the physicochemical properties of the filaments, whereas higher doses lead to smaller fiber diameters and improved mechanical properties. Moreover, filaments with 0.001% and 0.01% curcumin stimulate the metabolic activity and proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) compared with the no-filament control. However, this stimulation is not significant when compared to the control filaments (0%). Highly dosed filaments induce either the inhibition of proliferation (with 1%) or cell apoptosis (with 10%) as a result of the concentrations of curcumin found in the medium (9 and 32 μM, respectively), which are near or above the known toxicity threshold of curcumin (~10 μM). Moreover, filaments with 10% curcumin increase the catalase activity and glutathione content in NHDFs, indicating an increased production of reactive oxygen species resulting from the large concentration of curcumin. Overall, this study suggested that PDO electrospun filaments loaded with low amounts of curcumin are more promising compared with higher concentrations for stimulating tissue repair. This study also highlighted the need to explore lower concentrations when using polymers as PDO, such as those with polycaprolactone and other degradable polyesters.

Healing the damaged mesangium in nodular glomerulosclerosis using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): Expectations and challenges

It has been shown experimentally that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be delivered to the mesangium in some conditions such as amyloidosis to clear debris and foreign material, and eventually transform into functional mesangial cells (MCs) and change the altered mesangial areas into normal collagen IV-rich matrix. A more challenging situation is when the matrix is rich in abnormal extracellular matrix proteins, especially those difficult to destroy such as tenascin, and, as a result, assumes a nodular appearance - what is known in pathology jargon as nodular glomerulosclerosis. MSCs find it difficult to dispose of the altered mesangial constituents, an initial step required for mesangial repair to occur successfully. The ability of MSCs to repair damaged mesangium represents a novel therapeutic intervention to reverse mesangial injury and is potentially a powerful and unique approach to prevent progression ending in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This review will highlight progress that has been made in glomerular, and more specifically mesangial, repair, and will address future expectations and challenges to be confronted as the use of MSCs continues to be explored as a potential application for clinical practice.