Curcumin modulates the angiogenic potential of human endothelial cells via FAK/P-38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Many phyto-compounds are found to have anti-angiogenesis property. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol, has been used as medicinal plant for years with different biological activities. Here, we investigated the effect of curcumin on angiogenesis potential of human endothelial cells. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) were treated with different concentration of curcumin over a period of 72 h. Cell survival rate was measured by MTT assay. Cell migration and tubulogenesis were studied by scratch and tubulogenesis assays. The expression level of VEGF was monitored by RT-PCR. We also monitored the phosphorylation of FAK and P-38 MAPK by western blotting. Compared to control group, curcumin decreased HUVECs survival rate after 72 h. We found that the migration of HUVECs was decreased after curcumin treatment compared to the control (p < 0.0001). Cell alignment and tubulogenesis activity were found to be inhibited compared to cells from the VEGF group (p < 0.05). The expression level of VEGF was increased in curcumin treated cells at first 24 h time period. Based on data from the current experiment, the protein level of p-FAK/FAK ratio was increased coincided with a decrease in p-P38/P38 ratio treatment with curcumin (p < 0.0001). These data demonstrated that curcumin inhibited HUVECs angiogenesis potential by modulation of FAK/P-38 MAPK signaling pathway.