Effect of Turmeric, Turmerin and Curcumin on Ca2+, Na/K+ Atpases in Concanavalin A-Stimulated Human Blood Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

Ion transport enzymes may play an important role in T cell activation. This study investigates the role of turmeric and its individual components, turmerin-and curcumin-on Ca 2+ and Na/K + adenosine triphosphatases (ATPase) in the course of T cell activation.Concanavalin A (Con A) stimulated human blood mononuclear T cell proliferation paradigm was investigated for 3, 5 and 7 day periods with different concentrations of turmeric, curcumin and turmerin. Con A-stimulated cells treated with turmeric (250, 50, 5 µg/ml) for 3 and 5 days inhibited ATPase levels when compared to base levels obtained by cells in media alone. At day 7, there was a 3-fold increase for Ca 2+ATPase levels and a 2-fold increase for Na/K + ATPase. Curcumin (250, 50, 5 µg/ml) showed the same pattern for ATPase activity as turmeric at 3 and 5 days with a 2-fold increase at day 7. Turmerin (2500, 1250, 250, 25 ng/ml) for Na/K + ATPase activity showed an increase at day 3, a decrease on day 5, and a 2-fold increase on day 7. Ca 2+ ATPase activity in the presence of turmerin showed an increase in ATPase levels at day 3 (except at 2500ng/ml where it decreased) and a decrease in day 5(except at 25 ng/ml where it increased). Turmeric and curcumin generally inhibitedATPase and Na/K + ATPases in early (day 3) and intermediate (day 5) stages of mitogen stimulation. However, the effect after 7 days incubation for turmeric, curcumin and turmerin showed a marked increase up to three fold.

Immunomodulatory effects of curcumin: In-vivo

“…A low to high concentration of curcumin (5, 50, 250 μg/ml) enhances ConA mediated Na/K + ATPase and Ca ++ ATPase activity upon stimulation for 7 days, but not on days 3 and 5. This finding may imply the reshuffling of receptors associated with these transporters [38]. Curcumin also modulates surface p-glycoprotein differentially [39,40], which is also a target to break multiple drug resistance by curcumin [41].…”