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Gene & Protein in Disease Modulating immune response in liver by curcumin

into the liver, severe oxidative stress, and extensive liver and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. Evidence suggests
damage. In a rat model, curcumin treatment effectively that curcumin can downregulate the expression of growth
reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin, and survival-promoting genes in B-cell lymphoma cells,
while also preventing the cytotoxic effects of NO, oxygen- indicating its suppressive effects on this type of cancer
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free radicals, and cytokines. Similarly, curcumin cells. In curcumin-treated DCs, the expression of
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administration demonstrated significant protective effects CD80, CD86, and MHC class II is inhibited, leading to
in a rat model of hepatotoxicity induced by zinc oxide the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as
nanoparticles. This impact was evidenced by reductions IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Through the modulation of
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in serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and MDA, as well as DC function, curcumin can impede their maturation
the restoration of glutathione peroxidase levels and SOD and promote a tolerogenic phenotype by enhancing the
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activity. function of FoxP3 Treg cells.
The hepatoprotective role of curcumin against Curcumin has also been shown to inhibit DC activation
nanoparticle-induced liver damage has been well- in mice with experimental colitis by targeting the JAK/
documented. In addition, curcumin has been studied for STAT/SOCS signaling pathways. Evidence from ex vivo and
its protective effects in cases of hepatotoxicity induced by in vivo studies indicates that curcumin exerts inhibitory
sodium fluoride, a substance known for its toxicity and effects on the proliferation of immune cells and suppresses
ability to induce oxidative stress. Despite the inherent immune responses in specific cases, suggesting potential
toxicity of sodium fluoride, curcumin was found to benefits for treating autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless,
restore the balance of antioxidant enzymes and reduce curcumin also exhibits anti-cancer properties by enhancing
lipid peroxidation levels in rats with fluoride-induced the immune system. Tumor progression and persistence
hepatotoxicity. Azo dyes, particularly tartrazine (Tz), which occur when the immune system fails to detect and eradicate
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is commonly found in processed foods, have been linked cancerous cells. To that effect, the administration of
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to liver and kidney damage. In a rat model of Tz-mediated curcumin can help in the recovery of CD4 and CD8 cell
hepatotoxicity, curcumin administration significantly numbers, re-establishing the dominance of Th1-secreted
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improved antioxidant enzyme activities compared to rats cytokines. Curcumin treatment has been observed to
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exposed to Tz alone. This finding highlights the potential effectively prevent the depletion of central and memory
of curcumin in mitigating the harmful effects of azo dyes on T cells, thereby maintaining proper immune surveillance
liver health. Similarly, high doses of chromium compounds, and enhancing cancer cell eradication.
such as potassium dichromate (K Cr O ), can cause severe The immunosuppressive effect of curcumin has
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liver damage. In a model of liver oxidative stress induced prompted investigations into its dual role as an anti-
by K Cr O , curcumin was found to prevent an increase cancer compound. Results suggest that curcumin can
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in plasma enzyme activities. 85,86 Furthermore, curcumin function as both an inhibitor and stimulator of immune
provided protection against histological damage, reduced cell proliferation. Further research is needed to elucidate
abnormal body weight gain, normalized liver weight and the precise mechanisms or environmental conditions that
liver-to-body weight ratio, and ameliorated oxidative lead to varying responses to curcumin.
damage in the liver.
In the context of curcumin’s immunomodulatory
4.2. Immunomodulatory effects of curcumin actions within the liver microenvironment, a study by Fu
et al. investigated the effects of curcumin on circulatory
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The immune response is divided into two distinct leukocyte-derived fibrocytes in healthy humans. Their
categories: innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity findings demonstrated that treatment with curcumin at
is known for its rapid response, occurring well in advance a concentration of 20 μM for 72 h showed a significant
of the antigen-specific responses characteristic of adaptive decrease in the expression of CCR7, a chemokine receptor
immunity. Recent findings suggest that curcumin has associated with cell migration and homing. This reduction
the ability to modulate key immune cells, including in CCR7 expression suggests a potential mechanism
neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes, NK cells, DCs, T through which curcumin may influence the migratory
cells, and B cells. 87 behavior of fibrocytes. The study provides insights into the
Numerous research studies have explored the impact modulation of the CCR7/CCL21 axis by curcumin, which
of curcumin on T-cell proliferation in both ex vivo and is crucial for fibrocyte differentiation and migration and
in vivo settings. Curcumin treatment has been shown to is notably influenced by changes in CCR7 expression.
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reduce the number of proliferating T cells induced by Fibrocytes, a distinct subset of cells with characteristics of
compounds such as phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, both fibroblasts and leukocytes, play a role in tissue repair

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2024) 11 doi: 10.36922/gpd.3186