Abstract 645: Curcumin Modulates the Function(s) of Intestinal Epithelial Cells: Role in the Development of Diet-Induced Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Association between circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and metabolic diseases (such as Type 2 Diabetes and atherosclerosis) has shifted the focus from high fat high cholesterol containing western type diet (WD)-induced changes in gut microbiota per se to release of gut bacteria-derived products into circulation as the possible mechanism for the chronic inflammatory state underlying the development of these diseases. We demonstrated earlier that WD-induced changes in intestinal barrier function increases the release of LPS into systemic circulation and oral supplementation with curcumin not only reduces the levels of systemic LPS but also attenuates the subsequent development of glucose intolerance and atherosclerosis. Although curcumin is reported to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects in vitro , its poor bioavailability has raised doubts about a causal relationship between oral supplementation and the in vivo effects. It is hypothesized that curcumin attenuates WD-induced chronic inflammation and associated metabolic diseases by modulating the function of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and the objective of the present study was to delineate the underlying mechanisms. Human IEC lines, Caco-2, HT-29 and T-84 were used for these studies and modulation of direct as well as indirect effects of LPS on tight junctions as well as intracellular signaling were examined. Pre-treatment with Curcumin prevented LPS-induced disruption of tight junctions. LPS-induced secretion of master cytokine IL-1β was also dramatically reduced by pre-treatment with curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin also attenuated IL-1β induced activation of p-38 MAPK involved in the phosphorylation of tight junction proteins and subsequent disruption of their normal arrangement. Based on these data, the sites of curcumin actions leading to preservation of intestinal barrier function are shown in the Figure (activation and inhibition denoted by + and - symbols in green circles).