Curcumin Modulates Macrophage Polarization Through the Inhibition of the Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression and its Signaling Pathways

BACKGROUND: Curcumin, the active ingredient in curcuma rhizomes, has a wide range of therapeutic effects. However, its atheroprotective activity in human acute monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells remains unclear. We investigated the activity and molecular mechanism of action of curcumin in polarized macrophages. METHODS: Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 cells were differentiated to macrophages, which were further polarized to M1 cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 µg/ml) and interferon (IFN)-γ (20 ng/ml) and treated with varying curcumin concentrations. [3H]thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation assays were utilized to measure curcumin-induced growth inhibition. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), and IL-12B (p40) were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Macrophage polarization and its mechanism were evaluated by flow cytometry and western blot. Additionally, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) small interfering RNA and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors were used to further confirm the molecular mechanism of curcumin on macrophage polarization. RESULTS: Curcumin dose-dependently inhibited M1 macrophage polarization and the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12B (p40). It also decreased TLR4 expression, which regulates M1 macrophage polarization. Furthermore, curcumin significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. In contrast, SiTLR4 in combination with p-JNK, p-ERK, and p-p38 inhibition reduced the effect of curcumin on polarization. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin can modulate macrophage polarization through TLR4-mediated signaling pathway inhibition, indicating that its effect on macrophage polarization is related to its anti-inflammatory and atheroprotective effects. Our data suggest that curcumin could be used as a therapeutic agent in atherosclerosis.