Effects of systemically administered curcumin on the cellular response pattern in periodontal disease model in vivo

• Grant number: 12/00820-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Periodontology
• Principal Investigator: Morgana Rodrigues Guimarães Stabili
• Grantee: Giovanna Righetti Bravo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Curcumin is a plant-derived dietary spice with various biological activities, including anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory. Its therapeutic applications have been studied in a variety of conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer and depression, diabetes, and colitis. The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin seem to be mediated by modulating the activity of signaling pathways and transcription factors, especially NF-KB, AP-1, and MAPKinases. Besides, studies have shown that curcumin can modulate the growth and cellular response of various cell types involved in the immune response including T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, and dendritic cells. However, studies about the role of curcumin in the modulation of cellular immune response patterns are relatively unknown. The hypothesis of this work is that curcumin can modulate the immune response pattern of T cells in a model of ligature-induced periodontal disease in rats. To evaluate this hypothesis we will assess the effect of curcumin on mRNA expression of T cells cytokines polarized into a Th1, Th-2, and Th-17 Treg-type phenotype in the periodontal tissues and whole blood of animals by RT-qPCR. The effect of curcumin on the stereometry analysis of the histological characteristics of gingival tissues subjected to ligature-induced periodontal disease also will be evaluated and the proportion of inflammatory cells and other cellular components will be compared in the different experimental groups.(AU)