Curcumin shows immunomodulating effects on type 1 diabetes

CARLA N CASTRO, J WINNEWISSER, LD JOANNAS, DA PAZ, AC LIBERMAN, RA DEWEY, E ARZT, M J PERONE

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Congreso; III Iberoamerican Congress of Neuroinmunomodulation 2009; 2009

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that destroys the beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Immunomodulating agents have shown beneficial effects on T1D experimental models. Curcumin (Cur), a pigment from turmeric, has antioxidant and antiinflamatory properties. Therapeutic action of Cur in T1D still remains unknown.NOD mice were given ciclophosphamide (CYP) to accelerate and synchronize autoimmunity and treated with Cur (0.1-1mg) at day 0 (d0) until d60. Controls received vehicle alone. Diabetes was diagnosed when glycemia was;300 mg/dl. Cur prevented the onset of diabetes in 42% and 65% of mice treated with 0.1 or 1mg Cur (p=0.029 and 0.0005, respectively). Control and Cur-treated groups showed similar glucose clearance. Histological analysis of pancreas from Cur-treated mice revealed a number of islets and insulin content similar to intact animals and peri-insulitis. The CYP-challenged group showed >50% infiltrated-islets, few beta cells and reduced insulin content.In vitro, Cur inhibited T-cell proliferation, dendritic cells Ag-presentation and NO production (20uM Cur p<0.05 vs. control).Cur did not affect viability of NIT-1 cells (insulinoma). Cur administration protects beta cells from autoimmune attack and prevents/delays the onset of T1D. Cur administration could be employed as an effective treatment of T1D.