Effect of curcumin on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell line

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell line(HSC). Methods HSC line, HSC T6 was incubated with different concentration of curcumin. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT colormetric assay. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and agarose gel electrophoresis. Results Administration of 20 100 μmol/L curcumin could significantly inhibit HSC proliferation in dose dependent manner( P 0.01). After treated with curcumin at different concentration of 20,40,60 μmol/L for 24 h, the number of HSC in G2/M phase increased and in S phase decreased. There was significant sub G1 peak using FCM. Apoptosis indexes (%) were 15.3±1.9,26.7±2.8,37.6±4.4 respectively, which were significantly higher than that of control group(1.9±0.6, P 0.01). Incubated with curcumin for 12,24,36 and 48 h at the same concentration of 40 μmol/L, apoptosis indexes (%) were 12.0±2.4,26.7±3.5, 33.8 ±1.8 and 49.3±1.6 respectively, which were significantly higher than that of control group( P 0.01).Cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and (or) ranked along inside of nuclear membrane and apoptosis body could be found by TEM. An oligonucleosomal DNA ladder of curcumin treated cells was demonstrated. Conclusions Curcumin significantly inhibits HSC proliferation, makes it arrest in G2/M phase and induces apoptosis of HSC, which effects are dose and time dependent.