Curcumin ameliorates atherosclerosis through upregulation of miR-126.
The potential usage of curcumin in diverse human diseases has been widely studied, including arteriosclerosis (AS). This study focused on investigating the relationship between curcumin and AS-associated microRNA, which may provide a better understanding of curcumin in a different mechanism. Human microvascular endothelial HMEC-1 cells were treated by curcumin alone or oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) plus curcumin, after which the following parameters were analyzed: cell viability, migration, and the expression of AS-associated factors. The regulatory effects of curcumin on miR-126 and signaling pathways involved in AS were then studied. Further, an animal model of AS was stimulated by feeding rabbits with 1% cholesterol diet. The effects of curcumin on the animal model were explored. We found that curcumin treatment significantly reduced HMEC-1 cells viability, migration, and the protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the presence or absence of ox-LDL. Meanwhile, the expression of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 was repressed by curcumin. miR-126 was upregulated by curcumin. The abovementioned effects of curcumin on HMEC-1 cells were all attenuated when miR-126 was silenced. And also, VEGF was a target gene of miR-126, and curcumin could inhibit the activation of PI3K/AKT JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathways via miR-126. The effects of curcumin and its regulation on miR-126 and VEGF were confirmed in the animal model of AS. To sum up, curcumin exerted potent anti-AS property possibly via upregulating miR-126 and thereby inhibiting PI3K/AKT and JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathways.
['Li|Yezhou|Y|', 'Tian|Leilei|L|', 'Sun|Dajun|D|', 'Yin|Dexin|D|0000-0003-3216-5136']
D000818:Animals D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal D050197:Atherosclerosis D002460:Cell Line D002465:Cell Movement D002470:Cell Survival D003474:Curcumin D042783:Endothelial Cells D006801:Humans D035683:MicroRNAs D011817:Rabbits D015398:Signal Transduction D015854:Up-Regulation D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
curcumin miR-126 arteriosclerosis VEGF