Nanocurcumin is a potential novel therapy for multiple sclerosis by influencing inflammatory mediators

Background and Aim : Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disease characterized by demyelination and inflammatory infiltrates in the CNS. The inflammatory cells and their products in the brain lesions of MS patients has recognized that disease is intermediated by pathogenic T cell responses against myelin antigens and production of inflammatory mediators, consequently a broad neurodegenerative process. The Th1 cytokines, IFN–γ, and TNF-α were higher in MS patients, however only the TNF-α levels were statistically considerable. TNF-α is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by abundant immune cells during acute inflammation. IL-1β and IL-6 are accountable for inflammation, and immune responses. Curcumin is a natural compound widely used in traditional medicine. Immuno-modulatory effect of curcumin on microglial cells has been documented previously.Nano-curcumin has 80 mg of curcumin encapsulated in nano-micelle.Nanocurcumin has been used as an anti-inflammatory compound.Methods : The aim of this study was to identify effects of nanocurcumin on inflammatory mediators in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). For this purpose, 50 MS patients were randomly divided into two groups. The test group received nanocurcumin capsule daily for 6 months. Simultaneously, the control group received placebo. Real-Time PCR was employed to detect the probable changes in gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in blood samples. ELISA was used to determine the alterations in these cytokines secretion levels.Results : According to the results, a significant decrease in mRNA expression levels of STAT1(p=0.0002), NF-κB (p<0.0001), AP-1 (p=0.0007), IL-1β (p=0.0017), IL-6 (p=0.017), IFN–γ (p<0.0001), CCL2 (p=0.0067), CCL5 (p=0.0034), TNF-α (p<0.0001) and also significant increase in expression levels of Foxp3 (p=0.0082) was evident in nanocurcumin treated group compared with before treatment. The secretion levels of IFN–γ (p=0.0025), CCL2 (p=0.0029), and CCL5 (p=0.0003) were reduced dramatically in test group compared with placebo group.Conclusion : These data suggest a differential role for nanocurcumin as an immune suppressant. Furthermore, the findings support the efficacy of nanocurcumin as an anti-inflammatory compound with the potential for improvement of MS symptoms. In this clinical trial, it was found that the six-month oral administration of nanocurcumin could decrease mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and transcriptional factors and also secretion levels in MS patients.

Keywords:

Multiple sclerosis , Nanocurcumin , Cytokine , Transcription factor