[Effect of curcumin on expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases and matrix metalloproteinases in Jurkat cells].

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in apoptotic human T cell lymphoma Jurkat cells induced by curcumin in vitro and explore the possible molecular mechanisms of curcumin-induced apoptosis. METHODS:Jurkat cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumin, and the cell proliferation and cell cycle changes were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting and gelatin zymography were employed to examine the protein expression levels of MAPKs and MMPs activity in the exposed cells. RESULTS:Curcumin inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and caused cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Treatment of Jurkat cells with 25, 50, and 75 µmol/L curcumin resulted in a concentration-dependent increase of JNK and p-JNK expressions (P<0.01) without significantly affecting the expressions of ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK or the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. CONCLUSION:Curcumin within the concentration range of 6.25-25.00 µmol/L can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Jurkat cells, the mechanism of which might involve the activation of JNK pathway but not the MMPs.