Curcumin Attenuates 60% Oxygen-Induced Lung Injury Via Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms In Neonatal Rats

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to discuss the effects of curcumin on histological changes,serum expression of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 and IGFBP-2, and lung tissue of 60% oxygen-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) in neonatal rats and its potential molecular mechanism .METHOD: Total of 144 Sprague-Dawley(SD) pathogen-free term neonatal rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: room air group; room air + curcumin group; 60%oxygen group; 60%oxygen +curcumin group. Eight rats were randomly taken from each group and sacrificed at 4, 7 and 14 days for collecting blood and lung tissue. The histopathological changes and lung radical alveolar counts(RAC)were examined by hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining; the mRNA of IGFBP-2 in the 1ung tissue was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR); the level of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 and IGFBP-2 in serum and lung tissue were detected by ELISA.RESULT: We found in BPD group, erythrocyte and inflammatory cells infiltrated into the alveolar space, alveolar septum inhomogeneous thickened, and alveolar structure disorder and developmental lag when compared with the room air group and room air + curcumin group, Furthermore, such pathological changes aggravated with prolonged hyperoxia exposure. The concentration of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10 and IGFBP-2 in serum and lung tissue incredsed significantly(P<0.05).Decreased expression levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and IGFBP-2 were determined in different degrees after treated with curcumin, while the expression of IL-10 increased significantly(P<0.05); there were no significant differences between the room air group and room air + curcumin group. The expression of IGFBP-2 mRNA was consistent with the change tendency of the protein in all 4 groups.CONCLUSION: Thus, curcumin may partly prevent the retardation of fetal lung development caused by prolonged hyperoxia exposure, whose potential mechanism might be that curcumin down regulates the expressions of TNF-α,IL-6and IGFBP-2, and up regualtes the expression of IL-10 in serum and lung tissue under 60%oxygen.