Curcumin Attenuates Radiation-Induced Inflammation and Fibrosis in Rat Lungs
Curcumin Attenuates Radiation-Induced Inflammation and Fibrosis in Rat Lungs
- 대한생리학회-대한약리학회
- The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology
- 제17권 제4호
- : SCOPUS, SCIE, KCI등재
- 2013.01
- 267 - 274 (8 pages)
A beneficial radioprotective agent has been used to treat the radiation-induced lung injury. This study was performed to investigate whether curcumin, which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, could ameliorate radiation-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in irradiated lungs. Rats were given daily doses of intragastric curcumin (200 mg/kg) prior to a single irradiation and for 8 weeks after radiation. Histopathologic findings demonstrated that macrophage accumulation, interstitial edema, alveolar septal thickness, perivascular fibrosis, and collapse in radiation-treated lungs were inhibited by curcumin administration. Radiation-induced transforming growth factor-Ղ1 (TGF-Ղ1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression, and collagen accumulation were also inhibited by curcumin. Moreover, western blot analysis revealed that curcumin lowered radiation-induced increases of tumor necrosis factor-Ձ (TNF-Ձ), TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Curcumin also inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-ՊB (NF-ՊB) p65 in radiation-treated lungs. These results indicate that long-term curcumin administration may reduce lung inflammation and fibrosis caused by radiation treatment.