Curcumin induces the apoptotic intrinsic pathway via upregulation of reactive oxygen species and JNKs in H9c2 cardiac myoblasts.

Curcumin derived from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), is a well known coloring culinary agent, that has therapeutic properties against diverse pathologies such as cancer, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Given the salutary potential of curcumin, deciphering its mode of action particularly in cardiac cells, is of outstanding value. Accumulating evidence implicates curcumin in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways leading to cell survival or apoptosis. Therefore, the present study aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms triggered by curcumin in H9c2 cells. Curcumin was found to activate p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) as well as c-jun NH2 terminal kinases (JNKs), in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We also observed curcumin to impair cell survival by promoting apoptosis, evidenced by chromatin condensation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 cleavage, as well as Bax translocation and cytochrome c release into the cytosol. Curcumin-induced apoptosis was ascribed to JNKs, since hindering their activity abolished PARP fragmentation. Furthermore, we identified curcumin to exert a pro-oxidative activity, with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining revealing up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and anti-oxidants found to abrogate PARP cleavage. In conclusion, curcumin was found to stimulate the apoptotic cell death of H9c2 cells by upregulating ROS generation and triggering activation of JNKs. With reports underscoring the capacity of curcumin to perturb the cellular redox balance ensuring survival or enhancing apoptosis, determination of its mode of action appears to be critical. Future studies should assess the appropriate administration conditions of curcumin, so as to optimize its therapeutic potential against cardiovascular pathologies.