Abstract:

ABSTRACT  Objective: Curcumine has a long history of use in Chinese medicine as a treatment for inflammatory conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of curcumin against acute peritonitis induced by Staphylococcus epidermidis in rat and to elucidate possible mechanism of Curcumin action. Methodology: Curcumin [50 mg/(kg.d)] was intraperitoneally injected to rat for 24h, followed by injection of Staphylococcus epidermidis to induce acute peritonitis. After a survival time of 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, TLR2, TLR6 RT-PCR was performed. The expression of NF-κB was analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, TNF-α level in rat peritoneal fluid was detected by ELISA.  Results: The histological examination with HE staining showed that the submesothelial zone became thickened with the edematous changes and obvious WBC infiltration in both parietal and viscera peritoneum. Curcumin treatment inhibited the elevation of expression of TLR2 and TLR6 in peritoneum of acute peritonitis rats. Both TLR2- and TLR6-RT-PCR were revealed identical patterns in peritoneum of acute peritonitis rats. The expressions both TLR2 and TLR6 were progressively enhanced in 3h, 6h, 12, 24 hours after infection. In Curcumin treatment group, there had a similar tendency for the expression of TLR2 and TLR6 in peritoneum of acute peritonitis rats, whereas the expressions were weakened in 6, 12, 48 after infection compared with model group. The expression of NF-κB at 24 hours after infection and a statistically was significant reduction in rat peritoneum as compared to that in model group. Staphylococcus epidermidis could significantly induce the expression of TNF-α in rat peritoneal fluid, which could be partially reversed by Curcumin. Conclusion: Our results suggest that Curcumin could attenuate peritoneum tissue injury by inhibiting the expression both TLR2 and TLR6 and the release of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. These effects may involve downregulation of NF-κB.

Key words: peritoneal dialysis , Curcumin;toll-like receptor 2  , toll-like receptor 6  , NF-κB