Curcumin Provides Hepatoprotection against Amoebic Liver Abscess Induced by Entamoeba histolytica in Hamster: Involvement of Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB/IL-1β Signaling Pathways

Abstract

Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica). However, despite current knowledge and scientific advances about this infection, there are no effective treatments to prevent it. Herein, the antiamoebic capacity of curcumin in a hamster model was evaluated. Curcumin (150 mg/kg, p.o., daily during 10 days before infection) considerably prevents liver damage induced at 12 and 48 h post-intrahepatic inoculation of trophozoites and decreases ALT, ALP, and γ-GTP activities, and macroscopic and microscopic observations were consistent with these results. On the other hand, after one week of intraportal inoculation, liver damage was prevented by curcumin (150 mg/kg, p.o., daily, 20 days before amoebic inoculation and during the week of infection); liver/body weight ratios and tissue and histological stains showed normal appearance; in addition, the increases in ALT, ALP, and γ-GTP activities were prevented; the depletion of glycogen content induced by the amoebic damage was partially but significantly prevented, while NF-κB activity was inhibited and the expression of IL-1β was reduced; Nrf2 production showed a tendency to increase it, and HO-1 protein was overexpressed. These results suggest for the first time that curcumin can be a compound with antiamoebic effect in the liver, suggesting that its daily use could help greatly decrease the incidence of this type of infection.

Ginsenoside Rc Ameliorates Endothelial Insulin Resistance via Upregulation of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

“…ROS which could be augmented by hyperglycemia activate proinflammatory pathways including IKKβ and JNK which subsequently phosphorylate inhibitory sites such as Ser 307 of IRS-1 ( Ozes et al, 2001 ; Gao et al, 2002 ; Bloch-Damti and Bashan, 2005 ; Kamata et al, 2005 ). Moreover, IKKβ acts as the upstream signaling of NF-κB which stimulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 which in turn further activate IKKβ and JNK ( Ajuwon and Spurlock, 2005 ; Olefsky and Glass, 2010 ; Solinas and Karin, 2010 ; Macías-Pérez and Aldaba-Muruato, 2019 ). Accordingly, ways that are able to scavenge ROS or inhibit inflammation have the potential to protect against endothelial IR and endothelial dysfunction caused by various factors.…”

Determining Serum Amyloid-A (SAA), Haptoglobin (Hp), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) and Interleukins-1 (IL-1β) and 6 (IL-6) Levels in Neonatal Calves with Amoebiasis

“…IL-1β is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in inflammation and the host defense against tissue damage; although it is produced and released in various cell types, it is produced by monocytes and macrophages, which are cells that initiate the immune response (Lopez-Castejon and Brough, 2011). Macías-Pérez et al (2019) demonstrated thatIL-1β significantly increased in hamsters with amoebic hepatic abscess and decreased after the treatment. Similarly in our study, serum IL-1β concentration in the calves with diarrhea caused by amoebiasis (56.61±6.34 ng/ml) was higher (p<0.05) than in the control group (25.15±2.12 ng/ml).…”

Nrf2-Related Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin in Different Disorders

“…Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations in animal models have shown that this substance can decrease ALT, ALP, and γ-GTP activities. Curcumin could also ameliorate the amoebic damage-induced reduction in glycogen content and suppress NF-κB activity and IL-1β levels while inducing a tendency toward up-regulation of Nrf2 production [ 12 ]. Moreover, curcumin could attenuate ethanol-induced hepatic steatosis via modulation of the Nrf2/FXR axis [ 13 ].…”