Ping Gong1, Mo Liu2, Guomin Hong1, Yujing Li2, Pingping Xue2, Mingming Zheng2, Mengfei Wu2, Li Shen2, Muyi Yang2, Zhenyu Diao3, Yali Hu4. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: diaozy1999@tom.com. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. Electronic address: gp8858@126.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Abnormal inflammation mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway contributes to preeclampsia (PE). Because curcumin can inhibit TLR4 signaling pathway, we investigated its effects on a PE rat model. METHODS: Twenty-one pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: 1) seven rats were injected 0.5 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational day (GD) 5 to create a PE model (LPS-treated group), 2) seven rats were injected with a similar dosage of LPS and further treated with curcumin (0.36 mg/kg) (LPS-curcumin-treated group), 3) seven rats received saline (control group). Blood pressure and urinary protein level were observed. Immunostaining and periodic acid-Schiff staining of placenta were conducted. TLR4 and downstream Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) expressions of placenta were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. IL-6 and MCP-1 in rat serum and placenta were determined by ELISA and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared to LPS-treated group, LPS-curcumin-treated group had decreased blood pressure and urinary protein level, similar to control group. Furthermore, deficient trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling induced by LPS were improved by curcumin. Increased TLR4, NF-κB and IL-6, MCP-1 protein expressions in LPS-treated group were significantly decreased after curcumin administration. DISCUSSION: Curcumin improves the PE-like phenotype in rat model by reducing abnormal inflammation related to TLR4 signaling pathway.
INTRODUCTION:Abnormal inflammation mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway contributes to preeclampsia (PE). Because curcumin can inhibit TLR4 signaling pathway, we investigated its effects on a PE rat model. METHODS: Twenty-one pregnant rats were randomly divided into three groups: 1) seven rats were injected 0.5 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational day (GD) 5 to create a PE model (LPS-treated group), 2) seven rats were injected with a similar dosage of LPS and further treated with curcumin (0.36 mg/kg) (LPS-curcumin-treated group), 3) seven rats received saline (control group). Blood pressure and urinary protein level were observed. Immunostaining and periodic acid-Schiff staining of placenta were conducted. TLR4 and downstream Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) expressions of placenta were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. IL-6 and MCP-1 in rat serum and placenta were determined by ELISA and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared to LPS-treated group, LPS-curcumin-treated group had decreased blood pressure and urinary protein level, similar to control group. Furthermore, deficient trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling induced by LPS were improved by curcumin. Increased TLR4, NF-κB and IL-6, MCP-1 protein expressions in LPS-treated group were significantly decreased after curcumin administration. DISCUSSION: Curcumin improves the PE-like phenotype in rat model by reducing abnormal inflammation related to TLR4 signaling pathway.