Curcumin prevents human aortic smooth muscle cells migration by inhibiting of MMP-9 expression

Background and aimThe migration of vascular smooth muscle cells from the tunica media to the subendothelial region is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. Curcumin, which is consumed daily by millions of people, is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cell migration, the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and the activation and expression of MMP-9 in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).Methods and resultsThe Matrigel migration assay showed that curcumin (10 and 20 μmol/l) effectively inhibited TNF-α-induced migration of HASMCs as compared with the control group. To explain this inhibitory effect, MMP-9 was assayed by gelatin zymography and Western blot. The results indicated that curcumin inhibited MMP-9 activity and expression. Furthermore, the production of ROS and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50 and p65 induced by TNF-α were dose-dependently suppressed by curcumin pretreatment.ConclusionThese results indicate that curcumin has anti-inflammatory properties and may prevent the migration of HASMCs by suppressing MMP-9 expression through down-regulation of NF-κB.