Curcumin enhances human macrophage control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Abstract

Background and objective: With the worldwide emergence of highly drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), novel agents that have direct antimycobacterial effects or that enhance host immunity are urgently needed. Curcumin is a polyphenol responsible for the bright yellow-orange colour of turmeric, a spice derived from the root of the perennial herb Curcuma longa. Curcumin is a potent inducer of apoptosis-an effector mechanism used by macrophages to kill intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Methods: An in vitro human macrophage infection model was used to determine the effects of curcumin on MTB survival. Results: We found that curcumin enhanced the clearance of MTB in differentiated THP-1 human monocytes and in primary human alveolar macrophages. We also found that curcumin was an inducer of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis and autophagy. Curcumin mediated these anti-MTB cellular functions, in part, via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) activation. Conclusion: Curcumin protects against MTB infection in human macrophages. The host-protective role of curcumin against MTB in macrophages needs confirmation in an animal model; if validated, the immunomodulatory anti-TB effects of curcumin would be less prone to drug resistance development.

Therapeutic effects of curcumin in inflammatory and immune‐mediated diseases: A nature‐made jack‐of‐all‐trades?

“…It also reduces the levels of inducible NO synthase, IFN-γ and IL-12 through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway in monocytes/ macrophages (Billerey-Larmonier et al, 2008). In several studies, a significant increase in macrophage phagocytic activity in the presence of curcumin has also been observed (Antony, Kuttan, & Kuttan, 1999;Bai et al, 2016;Mimche, Thompson, Taramelli, & Vivas, 2012;. These studies suggest the potential benefits of curcumin for reducing oxidative and lipid-mediated damages in macrophages (Brouet & Ohshima, 1995;Chan, Huang, Fenton, & Fong, 1998;Kang, Chung, et al, 1999).…”

Nanoparticle-Formulated Curcumin Prevents Posttherapeutic Disease Reactivation and Reinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis following Isoniazid Therapy

“…Curcumin analogs have been reported to show promising in vitro antimycobacterial activity against drug-resistant strains of M.tb (39, 40). Recently, curcumin was shown to augment mycobacterial killing in host macrophages by inducing apoptosis (41). In addition, curcumin potently inhibits hepatotoxicity (38), which is a concurrent problem in many antibiotic therapies that include TB therapy (18).…”

Cytotoxicity, antiprotozoal, and anti‐inflammatory activities of eight curry powders and comparison of their UPLC‐ESI‐QTOF‐MS chemical profiles

“…Chemical studies conducted on some of these ingredients have led to the identification of metabolites such as curcumin, piperine, and capsaicin . Previous pharmacological studies performed on a part of these metabolites revealed, for instance, that curcumin has a large spectrum of bioactivity, including protection from myocardial infarction and the enhancement of human macrophage control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection . It also induces apoptosis in upper aerodigestive tract cancer cells, while capsaicin, besides apoptosis, can also induce cell cycle arrest by generating reactive oxygen species .…”