ICAM-1 and IL-8 are expressed by DEHP and suppressed by curcumin through ERK and p38 MAPK in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The present study aimed to determine whether curcumin isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa Linn could inhibit di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced allergic inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that DEHP dose-dependently elevated adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein level within 15-30 min, which was independent of de novo protein synthesis. And a late-phase induction of ICAM-1 was observed within 8 h treatment of DEHP via de novo protein synthesis through transcription and translation. DEHP also increased the expression of interleukin (IL)-8 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with curcumin dose-dependently decreased DEHP-induced expression of ICAM-1 and IL-8 as well as phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38. Preincubation with ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) or p38 inhibitor (SB203580) markedly blocked DEHP-stimulated activation of ICAM-1 and IL-8. We suggest that curcumin inhibits DEHP-induced expression of ICAM-1 and IL-8 through ERK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in HUVECs and may contribute to ameliorate pathologies of DEHP-related allergic disorders.