Radiation-induced surge of macrophage foam cell formation, oxidative damage, and cytokine release is attenuated by a nanoformulation of curcumin.

PURPOSE: We examined the potential of a dendrosomal nanoformulation of curcumin (DNC) for intervention of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced damage (particularly leading to atherosclerosis), employing an irradiated THP-1 macrophage model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Differentiated THP-1 macrophages were irradiated and treated with curcumin or DNC nanoformulation (and oxidized low density lipoprotein, ox-LDL, to promote foam cells). Chemical, biochemical, and genetics tools including viability and apoptosis, multiple ELISA, real-time PCR, Western blotting, enzyme activity, and fluorimetry assays were employed to illustrate IR damage as well as the DNC intervention potential. RESULTS: DNC per se at 10 µM exerted no cytotoxic effects on macrophages. However, it caused apoptosis in 2 Gy-irradiated macrophages which were treated with ox-LDL, chiefly through a caspase-dependent pathway involving caspase-3. Concurrently, 10 µM DNC prevented the IR-induced rise in lipid accumulation (72% decrease compared to IR control, p < .0001), dil-oxLDL uptake (78% decrease, p < .005), protein and mRNA expression of cholesterol influx genes, CD36 and SR-A, NF-κB activation (81% less binding activity, p < .001; and lower nuclear presence of p65), cytokine (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-1ß) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative damage to DNA (37% decrease in 8-OHdG, p < .05) and lipids (62% decrease in 8-isoprostane, p < .005). DNC facilitated the uptake of curcumin in irradiated macrophages, increased glutathione peroxidase expression and activity, restored glutathione (GSH) level, and upregulated the expression of a cholesterol efflux gene, ABCA1. Two other antioxidants, resveratrol and N-acetyl cycteine (NAC), could simulate some of the beneficial effects of DNC against IR-induced CD36 expression and lipid accumulation, which were obviated by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) pre-treatment of macrophages. However, some modulatory effects of DNC, particularly on lipid accumulation and the expression of SR-A and ABCA1 genes, seemed to be independent of its antioxidant effect, since they were still observed in BSO-pretreated macrophages, depleted of GSH. CONCLUSIONS: DNC treatment suppresses IR-induced oxidative damage, inflammation, and foam cell formation in macrophages through multiple mechanisms.

Nanoformulation of curcumin protects HUVEC endothelial cells against ionizing radiation and suppresses their adhesion to monocytes: potential in prevention of radiation-induced atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigated the potential of a novel dendrosomal nanoformulation of curcumin (DNC) in blocking radiation-induced changes in irradiated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and their adhesion to human THP-1 monocytoid cells. RESULTS: Co60 gamma rays reduced viability, raised the expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin (mRNA and protein), augmented the adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVECs, activated NF-κB binding, increased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1) and induced oxidative damage (reduced glutathione declined, while 8-OHdG and TBARS increased). 5 µM DNC significantly inhibited these radiation-induced changes, activated the Nrf-2 pathway, and effectively suppressed THP-1 adhesion to HUVECs, implicating p38 MAPK signaling. CONCLUSION: DNC treatment is a potential preventive method against inflammation and vascular damage from ionizing radiation.

Redox maintenance and concerted modulation of gene expression and signaling pathways by a nanoformulation of curcumin protects peripheral blood mononuclear cells against gamma radiation.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) could be detrimental to health. Oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation are implicated in radiation damage. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, has remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anticarcinogenic properties and is reported to protect cells and organisms against gamma-rays. We have recently enhanced solubility of curcumin via a novel dendrosomal nanoformulation (DNC). The objective of this study was to assess the potential efficacy of this nanoformulation in protecting human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) against gamma-radiation. IR-induced damage was evident in reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes activities, glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and viability assays. Treatment by DNC, showing superiority to curcumin, effectively counteracted these effects and reduced DNA damage as determined via 8-OHdG levels and lipid peroxidation as measured by the level of TBARS (as well as lipid hydroperoxides and 8-isoprostane). PBMC pretreatment by DNC prior to irradiation proved effective as well. Uptake kinetics revealed enhanced uptake of DNC compared to curcumin, particularly after irradiation. DNC suppressed IR-induced NF-κB activation 18 h post-irradiation. It induced Nrf2 binding activity early after irradiation which was sustained to 18 h. Gene expression analysis of a chosen set of radiation response genes in irradiated PBMC revealed a similar profile for DNA damage response and repair genes including FDXR, XPC, DDB2, and GADD45 in DNC-treated cells compared to IR control. However, in response to radiation, an altered profile of expression was noticed for CDKN1A (p21), MDM2, IFNG, and BBC3 (PUMA) genes after DNC treatment.

Curcumin confers protection to irradiated THP-1 cells while its nanoformulation sensitizes these cells via apoptosis induction.

Protection against ionizing radiation (IR) and sensitization of cancer cells to IR are apparently contrasting phenomena. However, curcumin takes on these contrasting roles leading to either protection or enhanced apoptosis in different irradiated cells. Here we studied whether pretreatment with free curcumin or a novel dendrosomal nanoformulation of curcumin (DNC) could exert protective/sensitizing effects on irradiated THP-1 leukemia cells. We employed assays including MTT viability, clonogenic survival, DNA fragmentation, PI/Annexin V flow cytometry, antioxidant system (ROS, TBARS for lipid peroxidation, 8-OHdG and γH2AX for DNA damage, glutathione, CAT and GPx activity, enzymes gene expression), ELISA (NF-κB and Nrf2 binding, TNF-α release), caspase assay, siRNA silencing of caspase-3, and western blotting to illustrate the observed protective role of curcumin in comparison with the opposite sensitizing role of its nanoformulation at a similar 10 µM concentration. The in vivo relevance of this concentration was determined via intraperitoneal administration in mice. Curcumin significantly enhanced the antioxidant defense, while DNC induced apoptosis and reduced viability as well as survival of irradiated THP-1 cells. Nrf2 binding showed an early rise and fall in DNC-treated cells, despite a gradual increase in curcumin-treated cells. We also demonstrated that DNC induced apoptosis in THP-1 cells via caspase-3 activation; whereas in combination with radiation, DNC alternatively employed a caspase-independent apoptosis pathway involving cytochrome c release from mitochondria.