THE EFFECT OF CURCUMIN ON IL-6 EXPRESSION OF UMBILICAL-CORD STEM-CELLS

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Objective. The objective of the present study is to investigate the regulation of IL-6 expression in curcumin induced human mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord (HUMSCs) Background. Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that curcumin enhances osteogenic differentiation of HUMSCs. Interleukin (IL)-6 and its soluble receptor IL-R are reported to play an important role in osteoblast formation. Methods. The hUMSCs obtained from Sciencell (Carlsbad, CA) were cultured in culture medium containing low glucose Dulbecco's modified eagle medium with 10% of fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic and antimycotic solution at 37°C in 5% CO2. Cells in culture medium were treated with curcumin (1 μM, 2 μM and 5 μM) for 2 days, and then transferred to osteogenic medium. The cells in culture medium or osteogenic medium devoid of curcumin were used as control. After one week the expression of IL-6 were measured using quantitative PCR. Results. Our results demonstrated that curcumin exhibited dose dependent inhibition of IL-6 expression. However, the decrease in IL6 expression was not drastic as seen in cells treated with dexamethasone. Conclusion. Curcumin influences osteogenic differentiation of HUMSCs by modulating expression of IL6 and other genes such as alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin and RUNx2, OPG, through signaling cascades that are probably different from the traditionally used dexamethasone. Grants. HPD