Abstract:
Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of curcumin pretreatment on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.
Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group), IRI group and curcumin pretreatment group (Cur group), with 10 rats in each group. Intraperitoneal injection with curcumin (5 mg/kg) was given to rats in Cur group at 1 h before operation; intraperitoneal injection with normal saline of same volume was given to rats in Sham group and IRI group. Rats in IRI group and Cur group received intestinal IRI operation. Pathological changes in intestinal tissues of the rats in 3 groups were observed. Messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in intestinal tissue were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Malondialdehyde(MDA) in intestinal tissue was detected by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, as well as contents of catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase(GPx) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in intestinal tissue were detected by ELISA. Protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase (AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in intestinal tissue were detected by Western blotting.
Results Compared with Sham group, the injury degree of intestinal tissue as well as the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MDA, PI3K, AKT and mTOR in intestinal tissue and serum increased significantly, while the contents of CAT, GPx and SOD in intestinal tissue decreased significantly in IRI group. Compared with IRI group, the injury degree of intestinal tissue as well as the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MDA, PI3K, AKT and mTOR in intestinal tissue and serum decreased significantly, while the contents of CAT, GPx and SOD in intestinal tissue increased significantly in Cur group (all in P<0.05).
Conclusions Curcumin presents protective effect on intestinal tissue with IRI in rats, which may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.